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PHOTOS: Oakland’s Black Lives Matter Murals Call for Justice

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One of the many new artworks in downtown Oakland in solidarity with the movement for Black lives. Artwork by the Trust Your Struggle Collective, Cece Carpio, Nisha K. Sethi, Priya Handa and Robert Trujillo. (Cianni Jackson)

Over the last week, Oaklanders have risen up in solidarity with protestors in Minneapolis, Louisville and cities across the country to denounce police violence and systemic, anti-black racism. Tens of thousands of people marching have called for the city to defund or abolish the police, and have advocated for bringing the killers of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade and other black victims of violence to justice. While the protests have mostly been peaceful, some have resulted in broken windows and graffiti that drastically changed the face of the city.

Over the weekend, local artists came together to cover Oakland’s streets with murals that bear remembrances, messages of solidarity with the black community, outrage and visions for a more equitable future. On 15th Street, artists wrote the words “Black Lives Matter” in enormous letters that spanned three blocks.

Photographer Cianni Jackson was at the scene. —Nastia Voynovskaya

Editor’s note: KQED tried to credit the artists whenever possible, but not all the murals were signed. Email nvoynovskaya@kqed.org to have an artist’s name added. 

Mural by DeredWRK (@deredwrk). (Cianni Jackson)
Mural by T. Banks (@reallyfebanksy). (Cianni Jackson)
Mural by @studionoiroakland. (Cianni Jackson )
A Black Lives Matter mural in downtown Oakland by @studionoiroakland.
Artist unknown. (Cianni Jackson )
Artist unknown. (Cianni Jackson )
Mural by Divya Bala (@divyabala). (Cianni Jackson )
Mural by Skyline High School students. (@_lemons_draw, @meyerlemonsketches, @happyemoart, @kaiadesigncircle, @rachelkantor.skyline) (Cianni Jackson )
Artist unknown. (Cianni Jackson)
Artist unknown. (Cianni Jackson.)
Artist unknown. (Cianni Jackson)
Artist unknown. (Cianni Jackson)
Mural by @justblaze88tats. (Cianni Jackson)
Artist unknown. (Cianni Jackson)
Mural by Sofia Sharpe and Estella Tse (@filosa_sofia and @estellatse). (Cianni Jackson)
Mural by Keene Visionz. (Cianni Jackson)
Mural by Christian Muñoz (@kilimunoz). (Cianni Jackson)
Artist unknown. (Cianni Jackson)
Mural by Sarah Siskin (@ssiskin). (Cianni Jackson)
Mural by Keena (@lamakina510), Leslie Dime Lopez (@ladimeuna) and Few and Far Women (@fewandfarwomen). (Cianni Jackson)
Mural by Gaia (@gaiaw.xyz). (Cianni Jackson)
Mural by Gaia (@gaiaw.xyz). (Cianni Jackson)
Mural by Maxx Slaughter (@maxxslaughter). (Cianni Jackson)
Mural by C. Gazaleh (@c.gazaleh). (Cianni Jackson)
Artist unknown. (Cianni Jackson)
Artist unknown. (Cianni Jackson)
Artist unknown. (Cianni Jackson)
Artist unknown. (Cianni Jackson)
Artist unknown. (Cianni Jackson)
Mural by @girlmobb. (Cianni Jackson)
Mural by @girlmobb. (Cianni Jackson)
Artists unknown. (Cianni Jackson)

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