Doncaster family create Black Lives Matter mural in front of their home

Laura Windle and her 11-year-old sister Evie wrote out the names of Tamir Rice, Leon Pattinson, Micheal Brown, and many others and used them in the mural on show outside her home, in Sprotbrough.

Laura said: “Every time we wrote a name I would Google what had happened to them and talk to Evie about it.

“During lockdown, I may not have taught her how to use a scientific calculator but I have been able to prepare her for a lifelong battle that her grandparents, parents, and myself have gone through.

“Being black and beautiful comes with injustices and they are systemic.”

Evie told her sister that she wants to be the first person of colour in the UK to be Prime Minister when drawing the mural.

After they completed the mural Laura and her family placed tea light candles on the names and played the song ‘They Don’t Care About Us’ by Michael Jackson and the song ‘Black’ by Dave.

She says that they cried through the songs and it gave them a way to grieve through what they were feeling.

Laura says that she and her family have experienced racism during the four and a half years that they have lived in Doncaster.

She said: “I’ve witnessed a lot of racially fuelled, malicious behaviour.

“They have told us that that we’re turning Sprotbrough into a ghetto.

“I feel like when we moved to Doncaster we came back to the 1960s.”

Laura does not agree with the riots and looting in America and believes in peaceful protests such as the mural she created.

“People are angry, enough is enough,” she continued.

“If it was my child who was being shot just for wearing a hoodie I would want to blow up the world.

“I believe that if this country had the same laws as America that I and my kids would be victims, we would be dead.”

Laura wants more conversations to be had on the topic of race and for people to take the time to learn more.

She said: “Stop pretending and being blind and thinking it's still not a problem today.

“Stop fueling negative stereotypes and treat people exactly how you'd like to be treated yourself.”

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