20 Black Lives Matter Murals Everyone Should See

Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests are on everyone's minds right now, and understandably so. Since George Floyd's death on May 25th, 2020, communities worldwide have been taking to the streets to speak out against police brutality towards people of color. However, this isn't the first time people have declared these injustices. Earlier protests occurred on this subject, but George Floyd was the tipping point. As a result of his murder, protests occurred in all 50 States and on every continent, excluding Antarctica.

These protests have already taken strides to force change through general police reform and forced accountability. They also remind us of the people we've lost. Across the country, new murals are surfacing, representing the BLM movement. While some of these pieces are advocating change, others display grief. Without doubt, it's a beautiful method to remember what we're fighting for, and the change we need. Here are some of the best pieces I’ve seen so far. 

1) Washington D.C.

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser commissioned this mural currently adorning D.C.'s 16th Street. The yellow slogan leads directly towards the White House and it's so massive it can be seen in satellite images. Alongside this show of support, Bowser named the newly painted section of the street "Black Lives Matter Plaza". While some people claim this as a publicity stunt, others are happy for the support.

2) Minneapolis, Minnesota

Amid the police brutality directed towards black people, George Floyd has become the BLM movement's current face. In response to his killing, a memorial for Floyd arose near the spot where he died in Minneapolis. The flowers and signs that surround the piece demand justice for his murder. While murals are showing up around the world in his memory, many of them seem to incorporate Floyd's last words. Undoubtedly, the saying, "I can't breathe" has taken on a life of its own.

3) Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Breonna Taylor was murdered during a no-knock raid in her Louisville apartment on March 13th. She was shot eight times by police who entered her home during a narcotics investigation. At this time, the city has not yet arrested the cops who killed her. Brett Hankison, one of the three officers involved in the fatal shooting, was fired. The other two officers are on administrative reassignment. The completed mural includes the #SayHerName, a campaign in remembrance of black women killed by the police.

4) Charlotte, North Carolina

Similar to the Washington D.C. BLM mural, Charlotte created their own street art running along Tryon Street. In this case, a different artist painted each letter of the iconic statement, which is why each one looks distinct. Unfortunately, someone recently defaced the mural, leaving tire marks spanning the entire piece. The artists returned to restore the letters recently, and the street is now closed to drivers.

5) Ann Arbor, Michigan

This mural painted in Ann Arbor's Graffiti Alley pays tribute to police violence victims since 2014. It took a group of five artists 19 hours to complete. The mural is 30 feet long and 14 feet tall. Amid the otherwise colorful alley, the black and white piece stands out and addresses police brutality in our country.

6) Tucson, Arizona

Robbie Lee Harris painted this mural in Tucson on a wall of the Rialto Theatre. He wanted to paint something uplifting - an image that would bring hope to those who view it. Harris hopes that it sparks conversation. Above all, he wants people to discuss the unfair treatment of people of color in America.

7) Hollywood Boulevard, California

A mural painted on Hollywood Boulevard shows solidarity between the BLM protestors and the LGBTQ+ community. The assorted colors of the words correspond with different pride flags. The transgender, non-binary, and pride flag decorate this obvious statement. In truth, it makes sense for these two groups to support each other. Without black transgender women, we wouldn't have pride.

8) Manhattan, New York

Muralist Tatyana Fazlalizadeh painted this mural of Trayvon Martin in honor of the Trayvon Martin Documentary series. The seventeen-year-old boy was fatally shot in 2012 by the neighborhood watch coordinator for his community, Zimmerman. Zimmerman later claimed he reacted in self-defense. While this doesn't directly tie in with police brutality, it does speak on some people's inherent distrust of people of color.

9) Denver, Colorado

Elijah McClain died in August 2019. He was walking home from a store when police stopped him as a "suspicious person". He had anemia - meaning he became cold easily - and frequently wore ski masks to combat this. McClain refused to stop for the police, and things got physical. When medical assistance arrived, they injected him with ketamine to sedate him. He later suffered cardiac arrest during the ride to the hospital. He was eventually declared brain dead and taken off life support. While this event did occur before the current BLM protests against police brutality, he is another name worth fighting for.

10) Naples, Italy

Other countries worldwide are showing support for the American BLM movement, including Naples, Italy. The Italian-Dutch street artist Jorit Agoch created this mural of George Floyd. It measures over six feet by 16 feet. Alongside Floyd are recognizable faces - Lenin, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, and Angela Davis. George Floyd is weeping blood to replace the human tribal signs showed on the other four faces.

11) Glasgow, Scotland

The raised, clenched fist has been the face of the BLM movement since the beginning. Marginalized groups have been using the symbol to fight oppression for years. At any rate, it became a symbol of black liberation in 1966 when the Black Panther Party adopted it. Now, you see the sign worldwide as a symbol of resistance, solidarity, and support.

12) Oakland, California

A mural in Oakland depicts former NFL player Colin Kaepernick. He began a movement by kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial injustice and police brutality. Peoples' reactions to his demonstration ranged from support to downright hatred. The peaceful protests eventually proved to fall on deaf ears. For this reason, some people have resorted to violence to get their message across. Of course, we're not yet sure if the rioting began because of BLM protesters or as a response to police violence.

13) Washington D.C.

Activists added their own message to 16th Street's BLM mural, painting "Defund the Police" at the end of the slogan. The addition does not wish to cut police funding completely but instead redirect some of the money to community safety. That is to say, it's a call for new roles in the system. Instead of police answering to all emergencies, we should have responders trained in mental health and conflict de-escalation.

14) San Francisco, California

Artist Kate Tova painted this mural titled "Say Her Name" in reference to the hashtag campaign to remember murdered black women. She wanted to stand with people of color who lost their lives to police violence. The colorful mural displays charms and beads to signify beauty beyond outward appearance. Tova also added the names of some black women murdered by police, including Kendra James, Breonna Taylor, and Shelly Frey.

15) St. Petersburg, Florida

Here's another BLM mural painted in front of the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum. It was unveiled on Juneteenth - the day commemorating the end of slavery. Similarly to the painting in Charlotte, a different Tampa Bay artist worked on each letter. Plus, the color palette matched the museum's Juneteenth celebration flyer.

16) Dallas, Texas

Two men fatally shot Ahmaud Arbery while he was jogging through a neighborhood just outside of Brunswick. Gregory McMichael, a resident in the community, told police he believed Arbery resembled a suspect in a series of break-ins. He and his son Travis armed themselves and followed Arbery in their truck. Gregory claims Arbery attacked his son, so Gregory fired back in self-defense. The hashtag on the mural, #IRunWithMaud, is a social media campaign where people run 2.23 miles. This distance is the exact measure Arbery ran before he died.

17) Bloomington, Indiana

In Bloomington, artists painted over a city mural with the words Black Lives Matter. The original piece, titled "You Belong Here," received mixed reactions from locals at its unveiling. This occurred because it coincided with increased police presence and the migration of homeless people in the area. The city considers the vandalism an act of criminal mischief but has no plans to paint over it. A new mural will cover it this summer. Until then, it will stay.

18) Denver, Colorado

This BLM mural painted by artist Adri Norris sits in front of the Colorado Capital building. It spans the entire Civic Center city block. The first word of the saying is painted in different hues of brown. Therefore, showing that all Black Lives Matter regardless of skin shade. The addition of "Remember this Time" is a call out. Above all, it speaks of the previous times we've failed the people of color in this country.

19) San Antonio, Texas

This "Enough is Enough" mural shows support for the BLM movement and tells viewers how they can take action. Additionally, the list on the left is of organizations fighting against racism and police brutality. In the artist's words, it's a call to action to get people motivated to help the movement. Like the BLM mural in Denver, this mural shows different skin tone shades. It says that everyone's voices are necessary for the fight for equality.

20) Manhattan, New York

Lastly, here's a Black Lives Matter mural in Manhattan. A city-wide lockdown and protests forced store owners to board their windows in an attempt to prevent looting and protect businesses. As a result of these actions, a once-busy area appears dull and colorless. Street artists saw these blank canvases as an opportunity for their voices to amplify the movement. Muralist Steve Powers enlisted a group of artists to paint this piece. At its completion, the mural is a tribute to 40 black lives lost to police violence.

We currently live in a world at war. Some people are going to drastic measures to get their point across. Their anger is justified. People of color have never been treated as equals in this country, and it's time for that to change. Perhaps, with the help of artists and art like this, it will. I'd like to think so.