Protest signs and artwork on the Black Lives Matter Memorial Fence, Date: 10 October 2020
Protest signs and posters on the Black Lives Matter Memorial Fence, located on the north side of Lafayette Park in Washington D.C.
There is a diorama of the white house that is behind a fence and two soldiers on top of it. Underneath the ‘White House’ is a bunker baby and there is a bush next to this figure of a baby. On the base of the diorama reads "2020 Fearless Girls"
There is a sticker on a light post that has four black power fists on it. It is separated into fours by a white cross and it reads “White silence is violence.” Three of the squares are black with a white fist and the bottom left corner is a white square with a larger black fist in it.
There is a small gold statuette of three figures who are Sally Hemmings with one of her children in chains and Thomas Jefferson next to her. The statuette reads “Sally Hemmings, Thomas Jefferson’s slave, bore five of his children. One died, two escaped and two were freed in Jefferson’s will. Sally was never freed.” There is a yellow and pink rose underneath it. Next to this is a purple painted canvas that reads “Black Lives Matter” and it is underlined.
There are four posters that are on plywood, and they have a stylized portrait of Snoop Dogg’s and the posters read “I’m Voting Because I Want To End Police Brutality” or “I’m Voting This Election For The First Time Because I Can’t Stand To See This Punk In Office Another Year.”
There are multiple posters that read “You’re Lucky Black People want Equality not Revenge,” stop Erdogan Stop WAR,” “Jacob Black Is Still Alive [;] His life should NEVER have been in danger,” “#NationinDistress #JacobBlane #NativeLivesMatter #DumpTrump #FuckthePolice #DemilitarizethePolice #Antifa #BLMSolidarity # #NoJusticeNoPeace #KnowJusticeKnowPeace #RulesofEngagement #EscalationofForce Respect our Existence or Expect our Resistance,” “No Justice” [This has caution tape on the poster] “BLM” “Say Their Names,” and “Justice for Breonna.”
There is a cardboard poster that has the black power fist drawn on it and a tapestry that has the image of a church which is the Church of the Redeemer, Presbyterian. This poster reads “Black Lives Matter” “Church of the Redeemer, presbyterian Washington, DC” “A congregation with a civil rights legacy.”
There is a black poster that reads “Say Her Name” and this has many trans women’s names on it who have been a victim to police brutality. Another poster above this reads “Black Lives Matter” “Say Their Names” and has the following names written on it: George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Rekia Boyd, Freddie Gray, Sandra Bland, India Kager, Tamir Rice, Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Philando Castille, and Tarika Wilson.
There is a poster that has a portrait of Hitler on it with blood splatters behind his head and a red “X” crossing out his face. Under his face reads “Stop the War.
There is a cardboard poster that reads “Racism Is Small Dick Energy” underneath this is a black skateboard without wheels, and it reads “Andy Roy” [a professional skateboarder] “Bad Geese” with an image of Woody Woodpecker and it's heavily used.
Protest signs and posters on the Black Lives Matter Memorial Fence, located on the north side of Lafayette Park in Washington D.C.” Afterward, describe the selected images for the entry.
Source: The Black Lives Matter Memorial fence was a temporary chainlink fence installed in the area north of Lafayette Park and the White House from June 2, 2020, until January 30, 2021. The fence prevented public access to the area, and it also served as an important site of protest and self-expression.
Activist Nadine Seiler played a crucial role in protecting and caring for the fence, along with Karen Irwin and other activists in a loosely-formed group informally known as the "Guardians of the Fence." Nadine Seiler and Aliza Leventhal systematically documented the fence over the course of months, and Seiler became the de facto curator of the fence.
Additional information:
Library of Congress blog post "Protest Preserved: Signs from D.C.'s Black Lives Matter Memorial Fence"
D.C. Public Library Black Lives Matter Memorial Fence Artifact Collection”
Urban Art Mapping
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MM
Photographer: Aliza Leventhal
H Street NW and 16th Street NW, Washington, D.C., USA
Justice For... Street Mural, Minneapolis, MN
A street mural reads "Justice For" with a list of names of police violence victims. It is painted on the sidewalk in bright colors. The list of victims reads "George Floyd, Jamar Clark, Philando Castile, Tamir Rice, Eric Garner, Sandra Bland, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonanna Taylor, Alton Sterling, Freddy Gray, Ralph Bell, Michael Broan, Laquan McDonald, Stephon Clark, Antwone Rose, Sean Reed, Ariane McCree, Darius Tarver, Devon Bailey, Larry Jackson Jr., Nekeya Moody, Alfred Abuka, Sanders, Phue Lee, Cordale Handy, Phil Quinn, Ezell Ford, Dante Parker, Tycel Nelson, George Mann, Akai Gurley, Michelle Cusseaux, Tanisha Anderson, Rumain Brisbon, Matthew Ajibade, Isak Aden, Fong Lee, Jerame Reid, Frank Smart, Natasha McKenna, Anthony Hill, David Mcatee."
Mari Hernandez
Image <a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EZgyOtXU0AQFWXf?format=jpg&name=4096x4096">URL</a><br /><br />June 2, 2020 T<a href="https://twitter.com/ADLavinsky/status/1267818866190639110/photo/1">weet</a> from Aaron Lavinsky
Urban Art Mapping Research Project
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LA
Artist: Mari Hernandez
Photographer: Aaron Lavinsky
(44.934793, -93.262511)
Sixteen Lives – Endless Flavors
A black plywood panel in front of the Museum of Ice Cream. The board is painted with the names of sixteen Black people who have been killed due to racist violent acts: George Floyd, Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Breonna Taylor, Jordan Edwards, Tamir Rice, Aiyana Stanley-Jones, Sandra Bland, Laquan McDonald, Amadou Diallo, Michael Brown, Emmett Till, Ahmaud Arbery, Mical Griffith, Renisha McBride, Tony McDade
Urban Art Mapping
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HS
Photographer: James Boorstein / Box 3 Productions jb@box3productions.org
UAM-GF_2621
558 Broadway New York, NY, USA
Disconnect
A large 6 part plywood mural has been painted white. "Disconnect" has been painted in bubble letters on the left 3 panels. Surrounding this lettering, various symbols appear such as a TV with the word "lies" painted in the center, a needle, a virus graphic, a Wall Street Sign, a bullet, a money sign, a fire, a phone, a fist, a heart with "Taylor" painted inside, a sunset or sunrise, a pencil, music notes, a receipt for 2020, and text reading "educate our youth." Within these symbols the names of those murdered by police are painted in red. These include "Grant," "Castile," "Floyd," "Brown," "Rice," "Gray," "Garner," "Martin," and "Bland." The far right panel shows blue and white painted lettering spelling "Respect" with various symbols painted under it. The panel next to this is painted with swirls of multi colored psychedelic swirls. The center panel shows an orange figure and a ringed planet. It appears that multiple artists participated in this large mural.
Slick Nick, Others
Seward Pharmacy
Urban Art Mapping Research Project
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RW
Photographer: Rachel Weiher
UAM-GF_2652
2209 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Disconnect
Two murals on plywood boards. The left has abstract images and designs surrounding the word "Respect." "You are Loved" is painted to the right of this. A second mural to the right says "Disconnect" in large letters. It is surrounded by various images that provide a summary of 2020 (as noted by the bottom left of the mural showing an image of a receipt that reads "Receipt for 2020."), including a vaccine needle, a pencil, musical notes, fire, the Wall Street sign, a virus, a TV, a phone, and a raised fist. Names of Black people murdered by police surround the images: Grant, Castile, Floyd, Brown, Rice, Taylor, Garner, Martin, Bland, and Gray. A tag reads Slick Nick in the right corner.
Slick Nick and others
Seward Pharmacy
Urban Art Mapping Research Project
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NP
Creator: Slick Nick
Photographer: Heather Shirey
UAM-GF_2462
2215 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN, USA
2014 and 2020 I Can't Breathe
A single board of plywood is painted and placed vertically against a wooden fence. The board is divided into three sections by green paint. The first section reads "2014 I Can't Breathe, 2020 I Can't Breathe" in green and maroon paint. The second section reads "People are angry because waiting patiently for 6 years did not work." The last section reads "Stop promising change, #makechange, #patiencedidnotwork." Additional graffiti has been added to the last two left sections.
The dates in the first section of text refer to the police murders of Eric Garner and George Floyd, respectively.
Urban Art Mapping Research Project
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RW
Photographer: Rachel Weiher
UAM-GF_1891
38th street and Chicago Ave, George Floyd Square, South Minneapolis, MN, USA
Say Their Names
Painted on the street along Chicago Avenue, near the site of George Floyd's murder. This work consists of the names of other BIPOC who were killed by the police. The names are painted in simple block letters in a variety of colors. Names include:
George Floyd; Jamar Clark; Philando Castile; Tamir Rice; Eric Garner; Sandra Bland; Ahmaud Arbery; Breonna Taylor; Alton Sterling; Freddie Gray; Ralph Bell; Michael Brown; Laquan McDonald; Brian Quinones, Walter Scott; Trayvon Martin; John Crawford III; Steven Demarco Taylor; Terrance Franklin; Stephon Clark; Antwon Rose; Sean Reed; Ariane McCree; Darius Tarver; Devon Bailey; Larry Jackson Jr.; Nekeya Moody; Alfred Abuka Sanders; Phue Lee; Cordale Handy; Phil Quinn; Ezell Ford; Dante Parker; Tycel Nelson; George Mann; Akai Gurley; Michelle Cusseaux; Tanisha Anderson; Rumain Brisbbon; Matthew Ajibade; Isak AAden; Fong Lee; Jerame Reid; Frank Smart; Natasha McKenna; Anthony Hill; David McAAtee
Mari Hernandez
Lianna Matt McLernon, <a href="https://www.minnesotamonthly.com/lifestyle/people/this-minneapolis-street-is-a-growing-list-of-people-killed-by-police/">"This Minneapolis Street is a Growing List of People Killed by Police,"</a> <em>Minnesota Monthly</em>, June 8, 2020.
Urban Art Mapping Research Project
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HS
Mari Hernandez, artist
Lisa Keith, photographer
UAM-GF_1718
Chicago Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
"It Is Never My Intention To Harm Anyone" | Bringing Back Bowery
An expansion of a previously existing mural by Maya Edelman, The previously existing mural features a white swatch on a piece of plywood previously marked with other graffiti and tags that reads in large black block font: "BLACK TRANS LIVES MATTER". Between these words is a painting of the upper half of a person's face, with purple skin and long flowing blue hair. Underneath the person's face is a series of miscellaneous prints and painted freeform flowers surrounding a periwinkle triangle, with an inner triangle outline. The triangle is also bordered with a black and orange line.
The additions to the previous mural are extensive. The formerly white space below the original mural is now filled with vibrant imagery: foliage and greenery as a budding tree grows from the leftmost corner, blossoms bloom along the base of the mural, and a red skull with blue teeth sits in the rightmost corner.
What was formerly unpainted plywood above the "Black Trans Lives Matter" text is now painted as a tribute to Eric Garner. A portrait of a smiling Garner is now on the leftmost corner. Next to his face, a white swatch of paint interrupts the red background to state, in fully-capitalized lettering: "Eric Garner Died Thursday July 17th 2014 (Choke Hold) by NYPD." A blue circle reads "RIP" next to his final words: "I Can't Breathe" and "It Is Never My Intention to Harm Anyone". With multiple officers pinning him down, Garner repeated the words "I can't breathe" 11 times while lying face down on the sidewalk. o indictments resulted from Garner's murder, despite the chokehold that he was placed in at the time of his arrest being a prohibited hold.
Scooter LaForge, Maya Edelman, and Sono Kuwayama
Posted by @Bringing_Back_Bowery on Instagram. Caption: "Latest collaboration mural with @scooterlaforge @longunevenhair and @sonokuwayama at Bar Primi on the corner of Bowery and 2nd street"
Urban Art Mapping Research Project
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F.S.
Artist: Scooter LaForge, Maya Edelman, and Sono Kuwayama
Image: @Bringing_Back_Bowery on Instagram
325 Bowery, New York, NY, 10003
May Their Memories Be A Blessing | Bringing Back Bowery
On a foundation of light blue and pink paint, layers upon layers of vivid colors emerge. Black, blue, yellow, and pink crosses layer over red and green circles and dark yellow Xs to build a bold foundation for the focal point of the image to stand out. 13 bold white crosses are the top layer of the piece, each reading the name of a Black person murdered by the police and their age at their death.
The crosses read, from left to right, as follows:
George Floyd, 46
Breonna Taylor, 26
Eric Garner, 43
Trayvon Martin, 17
Riah Milton, 25
Michael Brown, 28 (correct age is 18)
Sandra Bland, 28
Elijah McClain, 23
Tamir Rice, 12
Philando Castile, 32
Freddie Gray, 25
Oscar Grant III, 22
Emmett Till, 14
In the upper leftmost corner of the work, in pink lettering almost indiscernible against the layers of paint that make up the background, the fully capitalized text reads: "May their memories be a blessing."
Robert Blodgett
Posted by @Bringing_Back_Bowery on Instagram. Caption: "Mural by @liza_and_the_clouds at @2coopersquare."
Urban Art Mapping Research Project
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F.S.
Artist: Robert Blodgett
Image: @Bringing_Back_Bowery on Instagram
2 Cooper Sq, New York, NY 10003
Breonna Was Sleeping | Bringing Back Bowery
A mural on plywood painted with a periwinkle blue background. The focal point is the text at the top of the work that reads in bold, fully capitalized lettering: "Breonna Was Sleeping Now She Rest In Peace". Breonna Taylor was an EMT and aspiring nurse. The 26 year old Black woman was shot to death by police in her own home on March 13, 2020. A grand jury did not indict the officers for her death.
Beneath that text is the black stenciling of a clenched Black power fist, alongside two feminine figures with long eyelashes and flowing orange and pink hair captioned "We Are Mod". Other text on the piece includes "Defund NYPD" and the last names of other victims of police brutality, (Eric) Garner and (George) Floyd. The remaining space on the plywood is decorated with abstract, organic lines and flowers in yellow, orange, and black paint.
James Rubio and Hitomi Nakamura
Posted by @Bringing_Back_Bowery on Instagram. Caption: "Amazing Mural by @thejamesrubio and @hitomigirlxyz at @bowerypoetry"
Urban Art Mapping Research Project
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F.S.
Artists: James Rubio and Hitomi Nakamura
Image: @Bringing_Back_Bowery on Instagram
UAM-GF_1613
308 Bowery, New York, New York, 10012