Philly Fire Department: ‘End Racism Now’ painted on Girard Avenue won't be removed

People painting "End Racism Now" in Fishtown
Photo credit Hadas Kuznits/KYW Newsradio

UPDATE: June 10, 2 p.m.

The words "End Racism Now," painted quickly Tuesday night by a couple hundred people in front of the 26th police district in Fishtown, will remain for a while longer than expected.

It was only expected to last overnight. Pastor John Brice of St. James United Methodist Church, who organized the installation, said he was under some pressure from the Streets Department to remove the paint the next day. 

"The streets commissioner told me I got to get rid of it ASAP, as soon as we're done," Brice said. "The agreement, we do have to wash it tonight."

However, contrary to what Brice said, the Philadelphia Fire Department said on Twitter that the city didn't have a problem with the paint being allowed to fade away naturally. 

Organizers, however, fully intended to have the display removed overnight – after capturing inspiring images – to ensure the streets remained safe with clear driving lines. They wanted to work on finding a more permanent location for this type of art display.

— Philadelphia Fire (@PhillyFireDept) June 10, 2020

The fire department says they tried to hose away the installation at the request of the organizers, but said their fire hoses could not remove it. They say the bright-yellow street mural is still visible and, at this point, the city has no intention of removing it.

The original report follows.

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PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Taking a cue from Washington, D.C., Philadelphians painted Girard Avenue Tuesday evening with an anti-racism slogan. The street mural was temporary, but neighbors say it was still impactful.

A few hundred people turned out in Fishtown in front of Philadelphia police 26th District headquarters — between Berks Street and Montgomery Avenue — to paint Girard Avenue with the words “End Racism Now.”

"And it's young people. Our change doesn't look like bell bottoms and suits and afros. Our change looks like the young people and the children and the Temple students and the neighborhood that's out here tonight,” he said. 

The pastor said this street mural won't last as the Streets commissioner told the group it would have to be painted over. 

In the meantime, they’re looking for another street where they can make this type of mural permanent,

"Real change is inside the heart,” Brice said.