GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — Part of West First Street in Greenville was closed again from Friday-Sunday, city officials said earlier this week, so people could check out the new “Unite Against Racism” mural.

The First Street closure previously was to allow for the completion of the mural. This weekend’s shutdown allowed the public a safe chance to view the artwork.

‘Unite Against Racism’ mural in Uptown Greenville near completion

“We tried to do as much as we can to help the artists because we know their desire to express themselves. What it means to them. We try to do all we can to get the images out there, get video out there,” said City of Greenville spokesperson Brock Letchworth.

The mural involved countless hours of work from dedicated local artists. Now, people got a chance to see the work and soak in the message.

“It just really makes me proud to see that there’s a lot of local artists coming together for a great cause,” said C.M. Eppes Middle School teacher Nicole Schilling.

Megan Ellison is one of the artists who created the mural. She came up with the artistic theme for the letter T in the word “Against” in the mural. Her theme was that it was time for change.

“It was really hard work and I enjoyed it,” Ellison said. “Just seeing people happy to see it, seeing what the artists are doing is pretty amazing.

“I was thinking of the girl just sitting there reading and drinking tea and waiting for something to happen.”

Now that her first mural is complete, Ellison hopes to start her own art business.

“It made me more confident cause I have my own voice, and speak out to everybody like ‘Hey, this is my piece, I did this,’ and I want everybody to be inspired by what I did,” Ellison said.

The detour for vehicles traveling east on First Street will be south on Washington Street, then east on Second Street before heading west on Reade Street. The detour for motorists traveling west will consist of traveling north on Cotanche Street, west on Second Street and south on Washington Street.

Pedestrian access to the closed area will also be limited during the closure and will last through noon Sunday.