Folks pulled off "Projection Strange Fruit" in Portland Maine in support of the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act.

"Strange Fruit" is a poem written as a protest against lynching by Jewish-American writer, Abel Meeropol and made popular by Billie Holiday and Nina Simone.

[Verse 1]
Southern trees bear a strange fruit
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees

[Verse 2]
Pastoral scene of the gallant south
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth
Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh

[Verse 3]
Here is a fruit for the crows to pluck
For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck
For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop
Here is a strange and bitter crop

Anti-lynching legislation has failed in the Senate over 200 times and is currently stalled by two white men from KY (@RandPaul) and Mitch McConnell (@senatemajldr).

“At least 4,742 people, predominantly African Americans, were reported lynched in the United States between 1882 and 1968. Ninety-nine percent of all perpetrators of lynching escaped from punishment…”

Contact these Senators and demand they pass the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act!

Paul (202)224-4343

McConnell (202)224-2541
...

Note from our activists on the the ground: The second projection incorporated audio as a major component. There are some changes to make to this media. Still experimenting and need to look into an speaker system. The goal is to project this onto a screen tied to trees in Deering Oaks Park in Portland Maine. I will coordinate with BLM Portland Maine and other local groups supporting BLM.

#BlackLivesMatter

Projections read "At Least 4,742 People, Mostly African Americans, Were Reported Lynched In The United States Between 1882 and 1968" "Anti Lynching Legislation Failed In The US Senate 200 Times", and "The Anti Lynching Act Is Stalled In The Senate By Two White Men From Kentucky".