FORT WORTH, Texas _ Patrice Jones smiled as she looked at the new mural of Atatiana Jefferson, who was killed in her home by a Fort Worth police officer last fall.
The mural at the corner of Evans and Allen in Fort Worth is a way to honor Jefferson's memory and raise awareness of police brutality, said Jones, who organized the recent gathering to create a mural. Aaron Dean, who shot Jefferson through a window in October 2019, resigned and was indicted on murder charges.
Jones and Roy Montelongo, an organizer with activist group Enough is Enough, said they hope the mural will serve as a reminder of Jefferson's life, death and the pursuit of a conviction for Dean by her family, friends and activists alike.
"This is symbolic to show that her life matters and to show the world what Fort Worth police did to her," Jones said.
She added that it was about time Fort Worth had a mural of Jefferson. Other cities across the United States have murals in her memory, including Denver, but this is the first in her hometown.
Montelongo said it was fitting that the mural was only blocks away from where Jefferson lived.
Jefferson's uncle, LaPaca Jefferson, said he hopes the mural raises awareness for the Atatiana "Tay" Jefferson Foundation, which works to support the homeless community and promote education in the Black community.
"Peace, unity and trying to bring people together: that's our mission," he said. "It's what Atatiana would have wanted, I think personally. It's not us against them, you know?"
LaPaca Jefferson said he hopes the artwork will drive people to look for cooperative solutions to police violence. He also hopes the mural does not encourage any efforts to remove police from the streets.
"We need change and we need it now, but taking police away isn't the way to go," he said. "I can't see any city working without law and order and police. We do need change, though."
Around 100 people gathered last Wednesday to watch as artists painted Jefferson alongside some of her favorite things, like Naruto (a Japanese anime character), a telescope and a depiction of DNA to symbolize her love for STEM subjects.
The original mural plan included flowers, but Jones said after talking to her family and friends, they scrapped that in favor of things that would more accurately represent who she was.
"She was a bit of a tomboy who loved science and anime," Jones said. "We wanted to reflect that and be honest and really honor who she was as a person."
The crowd cycled through the area as the painting progressed. Around 6 p.m, several people were working on the mural at any given moment. Some scrawled "Black Lives Matter" across one side of the building while others finished work on Jefferson's face and the depictions of her interests and hobbies.
The smell of paint wafted through the air as they listened to hip hop and talked, some about politics and police but many more about community and daily life and Atatiana Jefferson's passions and life.
Behind the building, attendees gathered for barbecue and drinks. A bounce house was set up near folding tables and chairs. Kids ran around laughing and screaming while adults chatted about everything from the food to COVID-19 to education to concerns about police.
Jones said she hopes the artwork and the support show the city that people have not forgotten.
"We care and we're paying attention," she said.
