Public Matter:
EVERYTHING HURTS.

Jammie Holmes

In response to the murder of George Floyd, Dallas-based artist Jammie Holmes initiated a public demonstration, with the support of Library Street Collective, across five U.S. cities on Saturday, May 30 between 11:30 AM and 9 PM EST. Airplanes with banners flying Floyd’s final words connected these cities in a national protest of police brutality against Black Americans.

DETROIT: PLEASE I CAN’T BREATHE.
MIAMI: MY STOMACH HURTS.
DALLAS: MY NECK HURTS.
LOS ANGELES: EVERYTHING HURTS.
NYC: THEY’RE GOING TO KILL ME.

This presentation was an act of social conscience meant to bring communities together in their shared incense at the inhumane treatment of American citizens. The deployment of Floyd’s last words in parts across the country underlines “a need for unity and the understanding that what happened to George Floyd is happening all over America”, says Holmes. His website includes a statement about THEY’RE GOING TO KILL ME. with links to sign petitions, as well as for donations to Campaign Zero, Reclaim the Block, and the families of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor. This presentation in the Belt is in partnership with Dallas Contemporary for a digital exhibition of this influential work, titled EVERYTHING HURTS.