Black Lives Matter street mural (Santa Cruz, California)
| Black Lives Matter street mural | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Year | 2020 |
| Location | Santa Cruz, California, U.S. |
| 36°58′28″N 122°01′44″W / 36.9745°N 122.0290°W | |
A "Black Lives Matter" street mural was painted in Santa Cruz, California, United States.
History
[edit]Community organizers Abi Mustapha, Sean McGowen, Taylor Reinhold and Shandara Gill spearheaded the mural project. The painting was done by 500 volunteers, and funding was acquired through fundraising, t-shirt sales, and donations. After two months, the project received unanimous approval from the Santa Cruz City Council, making Santa Cruz the first city in America to approve a Black Lives Matter Mural.[1]
The mural was painted September 2020.[2] A fresh coast of paint was applied in June 2021.[3]
The mural was vandalized in July 2021.[4][5][6] The vandalism consisted of heavy black tire tread marks resulting from burnouts.[7]
On January 20, 2025, coinciding with Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the second inauguration of Donald Trump, local civil rights activist Thairie Ritchie self-immolated on top of the mural as an act of political protest. While he survived, his current condition is not public knowledge.[8][9]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ Bushman, Laura (September 26, 2021). "'They need to clean it up': To BLM mural artist Abi Mustapha, restorative justice is the answer". Lookout Santa Cruz. Lookout Local. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ^ "Black Lives Matter mural painted in front of Santa Cruz City Hall | Photo Gallery". Santa Cruz Sentinel. 2020-09-13. Archived from the original on 2021-07-27. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
- ^ "Photo | Black Lives Matter mural receives a fresh coat of paint". Santa Cruz Sentinel. 2021-06-20. Archived from the original on 2021-06-21. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
- ^ "Santa Cruz: Black Lives Matter street mural is vandalized". The Mercury News. 2021-07-25. Archived from the original on 2021-07-25. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
- ^ "2 arrested over allegedly defacing BLM mural in California". NBC News. Archived from the original on 2021-08-16. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
- ^ Ting, Eric (2021-07-28). "Messy fallout after BLM mural vandalized in Santa Cruz". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2021-08-16. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
- ^ York, Jessica (January 6, 2022). "Defendant seeks new attorney in Santa Cruz Black Lives Matter mural defacement". Mercury News. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ^ Ojeda, Hillary (2025-02-01). "'This was a message': Friends say activist's self-immolation was an act of protest; plan Sunday vigil at city hall". Lookout Santa Cruz.
- ^ "Prominent local civil rights activist set himself on fire near Santa Cruz City Hall; the motive is unclear". Lookout Santa Cruz. 2025-01-28.
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