(PENSACOLA) --- When you Google Graffiti Bridge you get the below.
Second to Prince's 1990 film, the colorful local spot touts top search ratings as it should.
Though a resident for four years here, this Jersey native never noticed the bridge as much as in the last six months, due to passing every morning on the way to work. Now that I am covering Pensacola again as my local beat, my husband suggested I do a weekly series on it, showing how the concrete structure speaks a thousand words.
Taking said husband up on his suggestion, I took it one step further, engaging the community on NextDoor as seen in the cover photo. Needless to say, in only three days, the message I pictured garnered hundreds of hits.
Now the week is over, and here is the report I promised with that first picture, shown below with noted comments. However the other pictures you will see I got each day after, until yesterday, Friday, Jan. 22. Each day the tone of the bridge's message changed, while "Love Thy Neigbor" remained. I choose not to post what I pictured each day, due to the controversy each photo could bring.
Hence, this story. As you read on don't shoot the messenger or each other when contemplating some of your neighbor's thoughts on the recent state of affairs in America.
(Angela Underwood NextDoor Post)
I must admit, after studying Art History at Stockton University in Jersey, some of the images are not only true art, the words bring them to life. Take for example the below. "There is no such thing as an illegal kid," strikes right to the recent ICE raids nationwide. OpGov.ai has reported on ICE protests continually with the latest report by Rory Holbrook, showing how one outrage affected the goverment meeting.
(Photo: Angela Underwood)
Within a matter of 48 hours, the message changed as seen below. Now aimed at gender identity and youth. Like ICE, the issue dominates national media while affecting adolescents all over the U.S. The bridge message reminds you how much this is on Pensacola residents' minds.
(PHOTO: Angela Underwood)
ICE demanded more attention on Graffiti Bridge, showing the next picture that speaks a thousand words. As an unbiased, non-profit site, I will not speak to any of these photos, which are soley here for the pubilc that did not get to pass through the bridge this week. If any of the pictures upset you due to your conflicting opinions, let's remember that some of these messages are connected to death, which no matter what you believe should be reveared as seen below.
(PHOTO: Angela Underwood)
Breaking up some of the tension is the coolest of God's creatures portrayed with amazing vision and titled with just as much coolness: Giraffitti on Graffiti Bridge; doesn't get better than that. As for the resident who came along and wrote "Pretty Girls Hate Trump," honestly ruined a good thing.
(PHOTO: Angela Underwood)
Why did you have to bring Trump into his face? Again, no Trump judgement, but it was such an awesome "Giraffiti."
By the end of the week, "Rene Good, ICE Bad," was covered with the below. There is no one better to define the acronym then Google.
According to the search, this is the simplest definition.
Antifa (/ænˈtiːfə, ˈæntifə/) is a left-wing anti-fascist and anti-racist political movement. It is a highly decentralized array of autonomous groups in the United States.
(PHOTO: Angela Underwood)
Friday also brought a defamed "Love Thy Neighbor" message, which was disheartening to this Christian reporter.
(PHOTO: Angela Underwood)
But then I saw the next picture and message on the Graffiti Bridge garbage can of all places, which that I do not find a coincidence.
Jesus came for the sinners, the worst of the worst, often considered with all pun intended, "white trash."
Leave it to Jesus to turn garbage into good.
(PHOTO: Angela Underwood)
I am ending the report with respects to Cassie Dodge as done below. Often the local landscape is used to pay honor to those who are no longer with us.
With that, my thoughts and prayers to the Dodge family.
Be back next week.
(PHOTO: Angela Underwood)
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