The site of the future Core Cannabis dispensary in Hyde Square recently commissioned a mural of George Floyd that was painted by artist Alexander Golob on the side of Core’s building.
Floyd’s death at the hands of a Minneapolic police officer has sparked widespread protests against systemic racism and calls for police reform.
Core’s Chief Operating Office Tomas Gonzalez said the beautiful mural honoring Floyd is part of the cannabis company’s mission to help support social justice programs and education once the dispensary opens. Gonzalez said when Core opens in September the cannabis shop in Jamaica Plain will include a Social Justice Cannabis Museum on site so the Floyd mural made sense.
“As a woman and minority owned business, we fell in love with the sentiment of the call to unite mothers against injustice,” Gonzalez said in a statement to the Jamaica Plain Gazette. “Alex (Golob) took that passion and created this moving design. We couldn’t be happier with it and are proud to display his work.”
The mural depicts Floyd with the quote, “All mothers were summoned when he called out for his mama”. When officer Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck he cried out for his mother before falling unconscious and later dying.
“This message resonates deeply within our company’s DNA. We have been planning exhibits and assembling experts to serve on our Social Justice Cannabis Museum’s curating council for over a year,” continued Gonzalez’s statement. “We grapple with these issues daily as we create exhibits that will highlight the disproportionate impacts that the drug war has had on minority communities. Considering the proximity of current events to our company’s Core values, silence was not an option. We stand with our community in the fight.”