Say Their Names

- Title
- Say Their Names
- Description
- This collection references specific BIPOC victims of police brutality and racially-motivated vigilante acts of violence.
Collection Items
-
Black Lives Still Matter | RIP Sonya + Terre
Located on a building across the street from Van Cleve Park. Pink graffiti on a black wall reading "Black Lives Still Matter | RIP Sonya + Terre." Sonya refers to Sonya Massey, who was killed by a sheriff deputy named Sean Grayson on July 4, 2024 in Springfield, IL -
Tamir Rice would have graduated high school
A plywood panel with graffiti reading "Tamir Rice would have graduated high school this month" -
Mourning Passage with Sonya Massey
Mari Mansfield's Mourning Passage, originally painted in the summer of 2020 and refreshed each year in May, with the addition of Sonya Massey's name in chalk. -
Stop The Violence mural
Located on a private residence and commissioned by the mother of a young Black man who was killed by the police. This mural depicts a large central portrait of a Black man with angel wings. He is wearing a Cincinnati Reds cap. He is surrounded by balloons of multiple colors with the names of individuals who were killed by gun violence. These include names such as Trayvon Martin and George Floyd, but also MLK and Malcom X. JFK is also included, making the message one about gun violence more broadly. Text across the top of the mural reads "We can give BLM Hope only if we Stop the Violence against aach other." -
Native Lives Matter and Say My Name
A plywood panel with stencils, graffiti, and wheat pastes. "Native Lives Matter" is written in red along the top edge. Images showing Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Oluwatoyin Salau with their names written at the top are positioned in a three by six repeating grid. Stencils of a fist and "Say My Name" appear on top of the images. -
Black Trans Lives Matter | RIP Elise
A chalk mural on a brick wall with text reading "Black Trans Lives Matter RIP Elise," "Her Voice Was Soft | Her Tongue Was Sharp
Her Love Is Forever," "Trans is Transcendent," "Rest in Power," and "Say Gay." Images include a rainbow (in blue, pink, and white), hearts, and a fist.
Elise Malary was a Black, transgender activist who was associated with the Chicago Therapy Collective. She was highly respected in Andersonville for her advocacy for transgender rights. She died in September 2022. KJ Whitehead continuously updated and maintained the chalk mural since that time. The mural was freshly updated on the day of this photograph. -
FOREVER--Breonna Taylor and Jatarius Tolbert
This mural is located on the back side of Grandmas in da Kitchen in Everett, WA. The mural stretches the length of the building. On the left is a grey-toned portrait of Breonna Taylor. On the right side is a portrait of Jatarius Tolbert.
Jatarius Tolbert, memorialized in this work, is the son of restaurant owner Sharon Tolbert. He lost his life to gun violence in Tacoma, WA on May 11, 2015 at the age of 17.
The word "FOREVER" connects the two portraits, painted in beveled letters in pink, orange, and green. -
Justice For Amir Locke
Portrait of Amir Locke hanging outside of Cup Foods in George Floyd Square. -
Say Their Names, Mending Walls RVA
A monumental portrait of Richmond-based rapper and emcee, Radio Blitz, surrounded by the names of many individuals whose lives were lost to racial violence. Radio Blitz has his hands raised in the air and his gaze focuses upwards. The names are written in graffiti style and the wall is brightly covered. -
Justice for Tony/Black Trans Lives Matter
Set against a teal background, a sensitive portrait of Tony McDade surrounded by flowers. Text reads "Justice For Tony/Black Trans Lives Matter."