Statue of George Floyd

A bronze statue of George Floyd (1973–2020), an African-American man who was murdered by a police officer during his arrest in Minneapolis, was completed by Stanley Watts and unveiled in 2021.[1] It is situated outside Newark, New Jersey's City Hall.[2]

For the sculpture in Brooklyn, New York, see Bust of George Floyd.

Statue of George Floyd
ArtistStanley Watts
Year2021 (2021)
MediumBronze
SubjectGeorge Floyd
Weight700 pounds
LocationNewark, New Jersey, U.S.
Coordinates40.7318°N 74.1740°W / 40.7318; -74.1740

Description

Weighing 700 pounds (320 kg),[2] and sculpted larger than life, the statue is of Floyd sitting relaxed on a bench. Watts said of the statue that "The world needed a peaceful George".[3]

History

Installed on Juneteenth, 2021, the statue was commissioned by Leon Pickney and sculpted .[4] It was donated to the city of Newark and is to remain at its present location for at least one year.[2]

Vandalism

Days after installation, on the night of June 24, the sculpture was vandalized. The face of the statue was painted black, with the name of a neo-Nazi group painted on its torso.[4] The paint was removed shortly after by the Newark Public Works Department.[5] The statue subsequently was vandalized a second time by a 37-year old actor in October 2021.[6]

See also

References
  1. O'Kane, Caitlin (June 18, 2021). "700-pound bronze statue of George Floyd unveiled in New Jersey". CBS News. Archived from the original on June 21, 2021. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  2. "700-pound bronze statue of George Floyd unveiled in New Jersey". WFMZ-TV. June 18, 2021. Archived from the original on June 19, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  3. Spocchia, Gino (June 18, 2021). "George Floyd statue unveiled at Newark City Hall in New Jersey weighs 700 pounds". The Independent. Archived from the original on June 18, 2021. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  4. "George Floyd statues vandalized in NJ, NYC ahead of Derek Chauvin's sentencing". WPVI-TV. June 25, 2021. Archived from the original on August 5, 2021. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  5. Sheldon, Chris (June 24, 2021). "George Floyd statue in Newark vandalized with graffiti, police say". NJ.com. Archived from the original on June 25, 2021. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  6. "Actor charged after George Floyd statue vandalized in NYC".
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