Downtown Silver Spring in Montgomery County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Global Refugee Mural
by Joel Beringer ©2009
| | creative director Tom Block | |
This mural tells the stories of 3 refugees who live here in Maryland, who were interviewed for this project. Georges, a former mayor of his city in eastern Congo (DRC), fled with his family when the war came to his region. Mai, from Myanmar (aka Burma), was unable to return to her country due to religious persecution by the government. Taameem, from southern Iran, fled after her brother was murdered by local militia members and she was targeted as well.
Funded by the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County. Partnership with the International Rescue Committee's refugee resettlement center in Silver Spring.
Special thanks to Kefa Cafι.
Artist & Project info: (415) 845-2699
email: [email protected]
Erected 2009 by Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Government & Politics • Immigration • Religion & Religious Structures • Wars, Non-US.
Location. 38° 59.616′ N, 77° 1.569′ W. Marker has been reported damaged. Marker is in Silver Spring, Maryland, in Montgomery County. It is in Downtown Silver Spring. It is at the intersection of Pershing Drive and Bonifant Street, on the left when traveling west on Pershing Drive. On the eastern wall of Kefa Cafι. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 963 Bonifant Street, Silver Spring MD 20910, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: A New Deal in Town (within shouting distance of this marker); You Are Here - 1931 (within shouting distance of this marker); First Bank, First Heist (within shouting distance of this marker); Spirited Entertainment (within shouting distance of this marker); Springing Up (within shouting distance of this marker);
Additional commentary.
1. About the mural
The mural is still there. However the interpretive sign is now missing.
— Submitted October 16, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 2, 2018
3. Closeup of text on the mural directly behind the artist's statement sign
"No matter how
long the night
the day is sure
to come."
-Congolese proverb
long the night
the day is sure
to come."
-Congolese proverb
Credits. This page was last revised on May 25, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 2, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 566 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 2, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 4. submitted on May 6, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.


