Community gathers to repaint Black Lives Matter mural

Community members and Santa Cruz city leaders gathered Saturday to repaint the Black Lives Matter mural in front of city hall, marking the fifth year since the public art piece was first created and the second time in two years it was repaired after an act of vandalism.

The repainting, organized by SC Equity Collab, directed proceeds from merchandise and art sales to support the recovery of activist Thairie Ritchie, who set himself on fire while standing on the mural on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The mural in front of Santa Cruz City Hall has become a symbol of community values and ongoing advocacy for racial justice. Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley emphasized its significance during this year’s repainting.

“I do think that at this time in our nation’s history, it is critically important to reinforce our community’s values,” he said. “And this is one of the ways we do that—in a very obvious and public way—so that as people visit our community and come downtown, they can see our values reflected literally in our streets.”

Photo Gallery: Black Lives Matter mural repainting

Originally painted in September 2020 in the wake of the national uprising following the murder of George Floyd, the mural was spearheaded by artist and activist Abi Mustapha, with the support of collaborators Sean McGowen, Taylor Reinhold, and Shandara Gill.

“This is year five since it was painted,” said Mustapha. “It started in 2020 as a response after George Floyd, and also people being pepper-sprayed in D.C. The mural was created in solidarity with the mayor of D.C., who painted ‘Black Lives Matter’ on the street so the president would see it every time he flew to the White House. That’s why our mural is still on the ground—to remain in solidarity and to honor those who came before us.”

The mural has faced repeated vandalism since its creation. In June 2023, two men who had defaced it participated in its repainting as part of a restorative justice process. A month later, surveillance cameras captured another act of vandalism when a man threw blue paint across the artwork.

Organizers of this weekend’s repainting said the event was about more than just repairing a piece of public art. “It’s about solidarity, remembrance, and action,” Mustapha said. “And we’re going to keep showing up for that.”