On Friday, September 18, 2020, Facebook rejected an ad for a Times Square billboard project in memory of George Floyd. Project manager Corinne Basabe commented," My team is distressed that Facebook would not cooperate with our Go Fund Me campaign to erect our beautiful memorial to the late George Floyd. We will continue, nevertheless to solicit contributions".

The death of George Floyd sparked worldwide protests and has opened the door for more dialogue about human rights. The George Floyd Justice Billboard Campaign committee seeks to display reproductions of "FLOYD", an original painting depicting the death of George Floyd on billboards. The painting is a plea to look inward at injustice and equality in the world. The campaign is an effort to keep this focus front and center in our collective conscience. It asks us to reflect on the power of Kindness and the lack thereof. The idea comes from a quote from the Dalai Lama. "Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible".

The Committee is attempting to get the reproduction displayed prominently among the billboards in Times Square, NY and on billboards around the country.  FLOYD was painted in the midst of the corona virus pandemic and BLM protests by Don Perlis, a 79-year-old lifelong New Yorker and social activist. The billboard campaign was organized to fight for justice and equality. Don Perlis's painting was chosen because of its depiction of an event that has had a global impact. 

Why Facebook rejected the ad is not clear. According to Perlis, "the basic message of the  billboard is the Dalai Lama's statement on kindness. It's an effort to demonstrate our common humanity". Perlis's paintings have appeared in The New York Times, Art in America, Art Forum, and Art News. His work has been exhibited in the Whitney Museum, Queens Museum of Art and the National Museum in Poland. 

The committee is comprised of professionals from the art community in New York City. To join the campaign send an email to  corinneinnisart@gmail.com . To contribute to the campaign go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/george-floyd-justice-billboard-campaign . Contributions help to pay for expenses involved in broadcasting the image of "Floyd" on billboards.