Teaneck Black Lives Matter Mural Could Honor Phillip Pannell

TEANECK, NJ — At a June protest, the death of Phillip Pannell remained at the forefront of minds 3o years after he was shot and killed by a Teaneck police officer.

Now, a group of community members are pushing to have Pannell and others memorialized through a new mural in the township.

At a Tuesday meeting, the Teaneck Township Council will hear a proposal for a Black Lives Matter mural, presented on behalf of the Teaneck BLM Mural Committee.

The committee, which includes Odein Baribi-Whyte, Kasai Sanchez, Natacha Pannell and Bonnie Savitz, have been organizing the effort online as well, where a petition has received 2,751 signatures as of Tuesday at 2:30 p.m.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to fund the project, which has raised $728 since late July. The total cost of the project is $5,000.

Within the proposal, the group says the summer of protests after the death of George Floyd prompted hard conversations, and revealed systemic issues in areas of the country outside of Minneapolis, where Floyd was killed.

"Teaneck is not exempt," they write.

Following the lead of others across the country, and state, who have created similar murals, the group says a mural can serve as a reminder about our current moment.

"Cities across the nation have begun to commission Black Lives Matter street murals to raise awareness and demonstrate a commitment to working towards racial justice and equality. We must mark this time in our history and do the same," they wrote

Memorializing this summer can also spawn a teachable moment for Teaneck's younger demographic.

Through the mural, the group states, the township can create a project that engages youth in peaceful social actions that raise their general awareness of the world.

Additionally, it would create "an opportunity for Teaneck residents to come together in a powerful demonstration of solidarity," they said.

"Teaneck will only become better as we take strides to promote anti-racist ideology and establish anti-racist policies and procedures. One of the steps that we in Teaneck can take immediately is to demonstrate that, despite our differences, we are united in proclaiming that black lives matter," they wrote.

So what will it look like?

"Black Lives Matter."

The phrase would be painted in "Safety Yellow" paint, and would also include a list of names of "individuals who were victims of police brutality, most notably Phillip Pannell."

Pannell, a black 16-year-old, was shot by white officer Gary Spath in 1990. His sister, Natacha, is on the BLM Mural Committee.

It will be designed and outlined by "experienced graphic artists" — who have already been chosen — and would be painted by Teaneck youth and local community groups.

The mural is currently proposed for State Street at the intersection of Lozier Place. "High visibility roads that service a diverse cross-section of the Teaneck community" were considered, and a few others fit the description.

Cedar Lane and Teaneck Road, for instance, fulfilled the requirements, but are county roads, which means additional permission beyond the township council were needed.

The committee proposal sets a date for the mural to be completed on Sunday, Aug. 16, followed by a community event to celebrate.

Here's what they say would need to happen prior to the event:

• The Management Team will coordinate and monitor all facets of the project and will work with the township and graphic artists to finalize all details, including the advance notification of local residents.
• The Resource Team will secure the necessary funding and will gather and/or purchase the supplies.
• The Partnership Team will recruit community partners, promote the event and devise a plan for recognizing volunteers and partners.
• The Volunteer Coordinators will identify volunteer teams and assign them a block of time to arrive and paint.
• The Social Media Team will document the process.

And the day of the event:

• The area will need to be cleaned immediately prior to the start of the project.
• Traffic will need to be diverted and the area will need to be cordoned off with police involvement.
• Graphic artists will collaborate to lay out the mural design on the street.
• Teams of volunteers will report to a station to check in and ensure that masks are worn and that volunteers are aware of social distancing requirements.
• Teams of volunteers will paint the mural, as directed by the artists.
• The Social Media Team will document the process.
• Volunteers will clean up the area at the completion of the mural.
• The area will need to remain cordoned off after it is completed in order to dry.

Following the completion of the project, the township manager would notify a member of the management team if the mural is vandalized.

The meeting is scheduled for 8 p.m. Tuesday, via Zoom. Watch it here: https://zoom.us/j/97833493604

In addition to Phillip Pannell, whose name will be emphasized in the design process, here are the others who would be honored on the mural:

• Akai Gurley
• Botham Jean
• William Chapman
• Eric Harris
• Trayvon Martin
• Freddie Gray
• Stephon Clark
• Miles Hall
• Oscar Grant
• Keith Scott
• Walter Scott
• Laquan McDonald
• Terence Crutcher
• Sandra Bland
• Jordan Davis
• Corey Jones
• Sean Reed
• Anthony Hall
• Yusuf Hawkins
• Ahmaud Arbery
• Tamir Rice
• Atatiana Jefferson
• Aiyana Jones
• Gregory Hill
• Jamarion Robinson
• Breonna Taylor
• Amadou Diallo
• George Floyd
• Alton Sterling
• Eric Garner
• Samuel Dubose
• Mike Brown
• Philando Castile