Fleet Block murals set to be demolished

SALT LAKE CITY — The Fleet Block, or the Salt Lake City buildings known for the murals that memorialize people killed in confrontations with police, are facing demolition.

Salt Lake representatives say the structures are unstable and unsalvageable.

City representatives plan to meet tonight with family members of those painted in red and pink to discuss the redevelopment. 

Rae Duckworth is Chair of the Black Lives Matter Utah chapter and cousin of Bobby Rae Duckworth who died back in 2019 and is also a part of the murals. He will be among those family members. 

“We’re walking into this building with heavy hearts, but it is very unknown to us what is going to happen in this meeting,” said Duckworth. 

Salt Lake City’s redevelopment plan for the Fleet Block buildings is still in the early stages without a specific timeline. The end goal is to create housing, a public open space for mixed-use purposes.

“We are hoping they install a new permanent memorialization of our loved ones who were killed by police,” said Duckworth. 

A statement from the Salt Lake City Mayor’s office says they intend to memorialize them in future plans. However, they have yet to announce the details and a timeline. 

The vote to rezone the block happened back in Dec. 2023. 

Related: 

• Granite School District releases statement on reported incident of racism

• George Floyd mural in downtown Salt Lake City vandalized again

• Black Lives Matter Utah Chapter leader leaves state due to death threats