A stretch of roadway leading to San Francisco City Hall has been painted over with a mural that spells out “BLACK LIVES MATTER.”
Volunteers picked up brushes, rollers and bright yellow paint to create the message in San Francisco.
“It’s all about capturing the moment that we’re in right now,” organizer Melanie Green said. “We’re in a moment of empowerment for black people and for people of color.”
Andre Jones, also known as “Natty Rebel,” is the artist behind the murals in San Francisco and Oakland.
“Sometimes you need big,” he said. “You know, they say the writing’s on the wall. Well, the writing’s on the street. So, you need that inspiration.”
A man crosses over a giant street mural reading “Black Lives Matter” spanning three city blocks near City Hall in San Francisco, California on June 12, 2020. – The May 25 killing of George Floyd, an African American, by a white police officer in Minneapolis has ignited mass protests for racial justice and police reform across the United States. (Photo by Josh Edelson / AFP) (Photo by JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images)
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An aerial photo shows a man walking over the painted word “Black” part of “Black Lives Matter” giant street mural spanning three city blocks near City Hall in San Francisco, California on June 12, 2020. – The May 25 killing of George Floyd, an African American, by a white police officer in Minneapolis has ignited mass protests for racial justice and police reform across the United States. (Photo by Josh Edelson / AFP) (Photo by JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images)
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An aerial photo shows a giant street mural reading “Black Lives Matter” spanning three city blocks near City Hall in San Francisco, California on June 12, 2020. – The May 25 killing of George Floyd, an African American, by a white police officer in Minneapolis has ignited mass protests for racial justice and police reform across the United States. (Photo by Josh Edelson / AFP) (Photo by JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images)
Getty Images
An aerial photo shows a giant street mural reading “Black Lives Matter” spanning three city blocks near City Hall in San Francisco, California on June 12, 2020. – The May 25 killing of George Floyd, an African American, by a white police officer in Minneapolis has ignited mass protests for racial justice and police reform across the United States. (Photo by Josh Edelson / AFP) (Photo by JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images)
Getty Images
A man crosses over a giant street mural reading “Black Lives Matter” spanning three city blocks near City Hall in San Francisco, California on June 12, 2020. – The May 25 killing of George Floyd, an African American, by a white police officer in Minneapolis has ignited mass protests for racial justice and police reform across the United States. (Photo by Josh Edelson / AFP) (Photo by JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images)
Getty Images
An aerial photo shows a giant street mural reading “Black Lives Matter” spanning three city blocks near City Hall in San Francisco, California on June 12, 2020. – The May 25 killing of George Floyd, an African American, by a white police officer in Minneapolis has ignited mass protests for racial justice and police reform across the United States. (Photo by Josh Edelson / AFP) (Photo by JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images)
The mural’s creation comes amid a revived effort to combat racism and police brutality following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police.
“People are fed up,” San Francisco resident Damien Posey said. “Everybody can’t be on the front line and fight. Some people are not equipped for that. Some people know how to pray. Some people know how to paint.”
A stretch of 15th Street in downtown Oakland has been transformed into a mural featuring the phrase “#BLACK LIVES MATTER” in yellow paint.
Fellow San Franciscan Lake Raymond brought her 2-year-old daughter to help paint, too.
“My husband and I thought it was important that she’s part of the movement, part of activism to make her world a better place, so fighting for her own life, fighting for the lives of our family,” Raymond said.
