The famous attraction along New York City streets, LinkNYC kiosks, is getting a new look. In light of the recent protests, they pay tribute to the names that have become catalysts during this revolutionary part of American history, TechCrunch reported.
The LinkNYC slab on Worth Street is cycling through the names of black men killed by the police pic.twitter.com/hg0u6y72nA — Molly Crabapple (@mollycrabapple) June 4, 2020
Since late 2015, these kiosks have become part of the New Yorker's life while they see them on the sidewalks. They are modern replacements to the decaying public phones.
In this area, they can access the Internet, charge their USBs, and seek emergency services. The "city that never sleeps" is with the entire nation and the world in support of the "Black Lives Matter" movement.
The former "NYC Fun Facts" on the screen of these signs are replaced with names of those who fought for a cause, whether it is about race or equality. The screens contained the bold white text of the names on black background.
Featured names
The names include Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, Philando Castile, Freddie Gray, and Sandra Bland.
They also include Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd. All of them are black people who suffered from the hands of the police or from gun violence. Floyd is the latest of them, an African-American who died in the hands of Minneapolis police. He catapulted the massive protests happening in various cities in the country today.
Walking across the street will feel like walking in a museum that gives tribute to these heroes. Each name runs on the screen for about 15 seconds.
Advertiser and marketing officer Dafna Sarnoff said, "LinkNYC strives to be a good member of the neighborhoods and communities we serve."
She added that they want to convey a message that lifts local voices by means of art, access, and information, as they herald for change. She further said, "We stand with the millions of New Yorkers who are demanding justice for Black Americans and speaking out against systemic oppression and racism.
The proponents of the street campaign are delighted by the positive response they have been receiving thus far since the features were launched.
The team began displaying the names on June 2, across New York City's more than 1,700 kiosks and will run until this weekend. The first day it came out, people flocked to see what's inside during Blackout Tuesday.
They also clarified that this movement is not tied to any sponsorship.
Protests
At least 12 people have already died in the protests, separate from the figures in another crisis grappling the world, COVID-19, Forbes reported.
Just a few moments after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25, people gathered in the streets to voice their cries in support of racial justice.
Captured in a viral video, the 46-year-old Black-American was heard saying, "I can't breathe" as police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck, killing Floyd.
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