Organizers to repaint Santa Cruz Black Lives Matter mural in fundraiser for Thairie Ritchie

Organizers behind the Black Lives Matter mural in front of Santa Cruz City Hall are hosting a repainting of the public art piece on Saturday, with proceeds from the event going toward the recovery of Thairie Ritchie, a local activist who set himself on fire while standing atop the mural on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

SC Equity Collab co-founder Shandara Gill told Lookout that the event will have merchandise and art for sale, and those profits will go to Ritchie’s GoFundMe, rather than maintenance for the mural, which is where proceeds typically go. She added that the group views repainting the mural at this time as a way to honor Ritchie: “He always led events centered on the mural, and repainting feels important because of what is happening politically.”

Gill also said that gathering to repaint serves as an important reminder that Black Lives Matter is a movement: “It’s not meant to make us feel better, but as a reminder that racism does exist. There’s always been a balance between grief and joy, and this year won’t be any different.”

The event will include a BIPOC-led community dialogue at the garden at city hall from noon to 1 p.m., away from the main repainting, to allow a space for attendees to share their thoughts on a number of topics including the mural and its future, the current political climate and the role of activism in the community.

“We’re available to hear, listen and know how this mural can continue to be community-led with the community in mind,” Gill said.

The repainting is the first such event since 2023, when community members, supporters and activists came together to repaint the mural along with two men — Hagan Warner and Brandon Bochat — who had defaced the mural in July 2021. Their participation and public apology was part of the restorative justice process that the collab advocated for.

The mural was defaced again just over a month after the June 2023 repainting. In that incident, surveillance cameras captured a man throwing blue paint across the mural. Last February, Taj Blum, 49, was arrested for felony vandalism in connection with the incident. He was later charged with the additional crime of possessing materials depicting a minor engaging in sexual conduct. He is due back in court on July 21 for a setting of his preliminary hearing on both charges.

In an Instagram post, SC Equity Collab acknowledged the pain of the current political moment, but said that gathering to repaint the mural serves as a reminder of the resilience of the Black Lives Matter movement and the fight for racial justice: “The city granting us permission to paint what we know to be true is not the same as felt city support, nor does it grant anyone political, social or physical safety.”

“The mural doesn’t exist to pacify the experience of racism in this community. It exists because there is racism within this community. Full stop.”

The post says that the Collab has received feedback from community members about the repainting and the circumstances surrounding Ritchie’s self-immolation, and that the group is holding a repainting “not to erase or overlook what happened, but in support of Thairie’s healing.” Organizers said they have not heard directly from Ritchie about why he chose to self-immolate on the mural and they are not attempting to amplify any particular message on his behalf. “We miss him deeply. We await the day we can listen to his truth and grieve with him, reflect and rebuild together.”

“Until then, we move with love, patience, and respect. We can honor his resilience through this event by remembering his words: ‘the marathon continues.'”

The event runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Those who want to volunteer can sign up here.

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