I HAVE TAUGHT CUSTODIAL CLASSES IN LLOYD, ITS A HUSKY BITUMEN OIL UPGRADER CITY ON THE BORDER OF ALBERTA AND SASKATCHEWAN, AND ITS VERY VERY ANTI UNION
Ryan Kessler 13/6/2020
Ryan Kessler 13/6/2020
© Jim McArdle / Stingray Television Lloydminster resident Travis Hall spray painted a fist and #BLM to show support for the Black Lives Matter movement.
Travis Hall recalls the horror he felt watching the video of George Floyd’s last breath, which prompted the Lloydminster man to share a message in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
His medium was spray paint and the canvas was his own fence. A large grey fist outlined in black accompanied “#BLM” in bold lettering.
“While I was painting this up, I had a couple of older women yelling at me not to do it,” he said in an interview.
He directed the onlookers to the sign he plastered on the fence he built after moving in four or five months ago. The sign encourages people to use the fence “as a creative outlet.”
“If you want to show your support on current events, peacefully protest or showcase your talents, you are free to do so,” the sign read.Hall hopes people use the fence to engage in a productive dialogue about social issues. He said he’s tired of racism against Black people, Indigenous people and new Canadians.
"It's disgusting," he said.
READ MORE: How George Floyd protests have ignited change in the U.S.
He feels the issue isn’t getting enough attention in Lloydminster.
“The people that don’t agree, they start to speak up, and you start to see that ugly evil that is racism and it’s all over our community,” Hall said.
Reaction to the graffiti has been both positive and negative, including on a highly circulated post he made on Reddit, Hall said.
As a staunch believer in the freedom of speech, he welcomes any respectful dialogue expressed on the fence.
“It’s very family-friendly around here and I don’t want anything to be vulgar or offensive or anything like that,” Hall said.
Concerned he may have gone against Lloydminster’s bylaws, he contacted Lloydminster’s mayor, Gerald Aalbers.
The mayor wasn’t available for an interview with Global News, but city spokesperson Eric Healey said in a statement that “the City of Lloydminster appreciates Mr. Hall creating an opportunity for our residents to express their beliefs peacefully and creatively.”
Residents are allowed to display “tasteful artwork” at their property, Healey said.
“We simply ask that those taking part in this installation do so in a way that is considerate to the adjacent properties and youth who may be viewing the message.”
Hall welcomes anyone interested to come share their perspective by painting on the fence along his property at 5502 35th Street in Lloydminster.
Travis Hall recalls the horror he felt watching the video of George Floyd’s last breath, which prompted the Lloydminster man to share a message in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
His medium was spray paint and the canvas was his own fence. A large grey fist outlined in black accompanied “#BLM” in bold lettering.
“While I was painting this up, I had a couple of older women yelling at me not to do it,” he said in an interview.
He directed the onlookers to the sign he plastered on the fence he built after moving in four or five months ago. The sign encourages people to use the fence “as a creative outlet.”
“If you want to show your support on current events, peacefully protest or showcase your talents, you are free to do so,” the sign read.Hall hopes people use the fence to engage in a productive dialogue about social issues. He said he’s tired of racism against Black people, Indigenous people and new Canadians.
"It's disgusting," he said.
READ MORE: How George Floyd protests have ignited change in the U.S.
He feels the issue isn’t getting enough attention in Lloydminster.
“The people that don’t agree, they start to speak up, and you start to see that ugly evil that is racism and it’s all over our community,” Hall said.
Reaction to the graffiti has been both positive and negative, including on a highly circulated post he made on Reddit, Hall said.
As a staunch believer in the freedom of speech, he welcomes any respectful dialogue expressed on the fence.
“It’s very family-friendly around here and I don’t want anything to be vulgar or offensive or anything like that,” Hall said.
Concerned he may have gone against Lloydminster’s bylaws, he contacted Lloydminster’s mayor, Gerald Aalbers.
The mayor wasn’t available for an interview with Global News, but city spokesperson Eric Healey said in a statement that “the City of Lloydminster appreciates Mr. Hall creating an opportunity for our residents to express their beliefs peacefully and creatively.”
Residents are allowed to display “tasteful artwork” at their property, Healey said.
“We simply ask that those taking part in this installation do so in a way that is considerate to the adjacent properties and youth who may be viewing the message.”
Hall welcomes anyone interested to come share their perspective by painting on the fence along his property at 5502 35th Street in Lloydminster.
LLOYDMINSTER RESIDENTS SHOW SUPPORT FOR BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT
Anti-racism rally at Lloydminster City Hall. (Nikita Ganovicheff, MyLloydminsterNow.com)
About 80 people came out to City Hall June 5th to show solidarity with other anti-racism protests in the country and around the world.
Residents held signs saying “Black lives matter”, “Respect existence or expect resistance” and “No justice no peace” at the protest while drivers passing-by honked their horns.
Tigra-Lee, who is Jamaican-Cree, says it was important to show her support as she doesn’t want her family to grow up experiencing racism.
“I’ve experienced racism. Every single person in my family has experienced racism. I hope that my daughters never have to experience racism in this day and age because it really does not need to be like this.”
She says racism is still a prevalent issue in Canada.
“I think people tend to focus on what’s happening in the United States and they forget that it’s still alive and well here,” she says.
“I’m here to be a voice for the people that don’t have a voice anymore, people who can’t speak for themselves or children that don’t understand what’s happening today. That’s why I’m here. To hopefully make a change in the world.”
Amanda Coupal started chants of “What’s his name?” with the rest of the group responding with “George Floyd.”
“What happened to George Floyd was absolutely horrific and we’re trying to make change in his name.”
George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died on May 25 when a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes as he begged for air. His death has led to protests all over the United States as well as in Canada and other parts of the world.
“What’s going on in the world isn’t right,” Hayley Meyer says. “Everybody needs to be treated fairly and equally and we can’t continue to see people of colour, black people as we’ve been seeing in the media treated in such unfair and unequal ways. We need to show whatever support we can and use whatever privilege we can to make as big a change as possible.”
About 80 people were outside Lloydminster City Hall for the anti-racism protest. (Nikita Ganovicheff, MyLloydminsterNow.com)
RCMP officers did not stop the protest but did come by to ensure it was a peaceful protest.
The City of Lloydminster had no official statement but respects residents rights to a peaceful protest.
Events are being held throughout Canada including North Battleford which will hold a Black Lives Matter Laps for Life event at the Walking Track near the Dekker Centre at 5:30 p.m. on June 5.
Lloydminster is a Canadian city which has the unusual geographic distinction of straddling the provincial border between Alberta and Saskatchewan. The city is ...
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