CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Black Lives Matter mural that was painted on South Tryon Street uptown in June is back open to traffic after Charlotte City Council voted 10-1 Monday night to reopen the road.
The section of South Tryon Street officially reopened for traffic Tuesday, Nov. 10. Seventeen Charlotte-area artists and a group of volunteers brought the mural to life on June 9 as the country dealt with the aftermath of George Floyd's death in Minneapolis at the hands of police.
Due to construction at the corner of Trade and Tryon, Assistant City Manager and Chief City Planner for the city of Charlotte Taiwo Jaiyeoba said the city decided to paint the mural on S. Tryon Street between Third and Fourth streets — a block filled with offices, a hotel and a lot of pedestrian traffic.
South Tryon was expected to be closed between Third and Fourth streets "temporarily" to encourage pedestrians to visit the mural, with social distancing in mind.
"Black Lives Matter" painted on South Tryon Street in uptown Charlotte
Within days of the mural's creation, it was defaced with black tire marks tracked across the mural, according to several videos from people in uptown. The artists quickly came back together to fix the damage adding a clear coat on top of the paint to protect it from any future damage.
In July, the city said the road will remain closed through Sep. 30. The mural between Third and Fourth streets was part of a new pedestrian plaza pilot program.
On Monday, Charlotte City Council discussed the stretch of South Tryon Street and whether to open it or keep it closed for pedestrians.
Advocates for its reopening said nearby businesses have taken a hit with the road closed, while supporters of the mural wanted to find a way to help the moment behind the mural live on.
Councilman Braxton Winston made a motion to keep it closed to traffic, opened instead as a pedestrian plaza, until Dec. 31 to allow city staff to come up with a better plan. After discussion, the council voted 10-1 to reopen it to vehicular traffic. Winston was the only dissent.
"By opening up this street and letting this Black Lives Matter mural fade away, we are saying McCormick & Schmick's valet is valued more than Black lives right now," Winston said.
City of Charlotte staff said they want to find another home for the Black Lives Mural and want to create a permanent pedestrian plaza on South Tryon — but city leaders say they need more time to plan.