A protester in Downtown Reno has been sitting silently for almost a month, collecting signs and banners from Black Lives Matter protests.
Jamey Ellis, an activist from the east coast, has been adorning the structure with protest signs collected and donated after protests that have been going on in our area. Ellis has been out at the believe sign for 22 days from noon into the evening talking to people, gathering signs, and providing chalk for others to write their own messages on the concrete.
"I'm here to listen to everyone who wants to talk at the moment, so there's a lot of engagement. I spend most of my day talking to people, and I would say Reno very much loves itself, loves its citizens, but wants change," said Ellis, who has been able to collect over 110 signs himself. "Overwhelmingly I have felt generous support, love, and solidarity not just for my action, but for the Black Lives Matter movement. It's been a fantastic experience."
The signs were donated to the Sierra Arts Foundation, a local non-profit organization and gallery.
“We are going to take all the signs and posters that you see before you and begin working on an exhibit that displays this piece of public art and public protest," said Kyle Young with Sierra Arts Foundation. “We want to ensure they don't end up in a landfill, and that they get preserved, and that these materials persuade parts of our community that are unsympathetic to the Black Lives Matter movement, we want to rally the entire community."
Sierra Arts Foundation has around 200 different protest signs, but they are asking for the public to donate any signs or protest memorabilia that they may have. They say that these are important pieces of American history, and need to be preserved. You can drop off your protest sign or poster to Sierra Arts Foundation, or call 775-351-9835 to arrange a pick-up. Â
