A couple of weeks after the mural was created at UNC Asheville, the school received a threat to the campus over the Black Lives Matter mural on University Heights. The email was sent anonymously and suggested that the Black Lives Matter mural should be removed. Some students from UNC Asheville were interviewed indicating their thoughts on the conflict, indicating that the mural was “a work of art... It’s simple and does not understand how someone could be so mad about it [mural] that you would threaten other people with violence (ABC News). The student later said, “the mural is a work of art with a strong message, representing a movement that can stir controversy” (ABC News). The threat did cancel classes, but it did not cancel the support of the Black Lives Matter movement at UNC Asheville. It was strongly encouraged that the mural would not be painted over due to a threat. It solidified the university’s stance on issues regarding racial justice and equality. The support still thrives among students and staff at UNC Asheville. The mural is still present at the university.   

In response to the threats made by an anonymous individual sent via email to administrators at UNC Asheville, the university continued to show support for the Black Lives Matter movement. The Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, Bill Haggard, commented that “we are not going to back up or in any way be intimated when it comes to our position on the importance of the messaging that Black Lives Matter” (The Blue Banner). Haggard strongly spoke for the university mentioning that part of the reaction to the threat was sadness as the community celebrated the mural and Black lives. The FBI eventually became involved in the investigation one week after the threat, as it was believed to be credible (ABC News). Regardless, individuals of the UNC Asheville community learned after the threat that there are people in the country who do not believe in freedom for all and will even threaten those who do not believe in freedom (The Blue Banner).  

The significance of this mural comes from the students at UNC Asheville as it was student-led. The university acknowledged and applauded the students, faculty, and staff who brought their vision, creativity, and integrity to the Black Lives Matter project on their campus (UNCA). The university would also like to recognize the volunteers and local artists who spent their time and talent to create the mural (UNCA). This mural should be celebrated and the impact it has on the UNC Asheville community should not be overlooked due to their affirmation that Black lives matter.   

Sources: 

Black Lives Matter by UNC Asheville - Exposure. (n.d.). Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://stories.unca.edu/black-lives-matterLinks to an external site.#!   

Kracher, F. (n.d.). BLM leader disturbed but not deterred by email threat to UNCA. WLOS. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://wlos.com/news/local/blm-leader-disturbed-but-not-deterred-by-email-threat-to-uncaLinks to an external site.   

UNC Asheville Response to threat about Black Lives Matter mural, Oct. 9-10, 2020 - news and events: UNC Asheville. News And Events | UNC Asheville. (2021, October 1). Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://www.unca.edu/events-and-news/stories/unc-asheville-response-to-threat-about-black-lives-matter-mural-oct-2020/Links to an external site.   

UNCA Strong: BLM Bomb Threat One Year Later. The Blue Banner. (n.d.). Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://thebluebanner.net/12592/arts-features-2/unca-strong-blm-bomb-threat-one-year-later/Links to an external site.  

The main colors on the mural are red, yellow, and green, symbolizing the Pan-African flag. The mural was sanctioned and was aided by neighbors on Ellis Street who painted the colorful letters to send out a message demanding reparations for those whose descendants were enslaved. The residents believe it was “necessary and appropriate” in the wake of such social reform. This mural was the third consecutive mural to be painted in Berkeley since the killing of George Floyd. In the previous month, students from Berkeley High School painted a “Black Lives Matter” mural on Allston Way and another mural that reads, “Ohlone Territory” on Milvia Street during a wake of protests that occurred back in March of the same year.  

One of the neighbors, Masha Albrecht, said the date of the mural's creation is on what would have been the 77th birthday of Margy Wilkinson, who lived in the middle of Ellis block. Margy was also one of the main organizers and supporters of the mural. One of the members present for the creation of this mural was a local muralist named Edythe Boone, who is an activist and educator on the issues of racism, poverty, and violence associated with young people of color. It is unclear today if the mural still exists, but it has prompted local governments to consider reparations for Black Americans, just as reparations have been made to Japanese Americans who were forced into internment camps during WWII. 

Sources

“Reparations Now Street Mural, Berkeley, CA,” George Floyd & Anti-Racist Street Art,     

accessed March 14, 2023, https://georgefloydstreetart.omeka.net/items/show/3445. 

Taylor, Tracey. “Reparations Street Mural Now Complete on Ellis Street.” Berkeleyside, 4 Oct.  

2022,    https://www.berkeleyside.org/2020/07/27/reparations-street-mural-now-complete-on-ellis-street.  

Taylor, Tracey. “Berkeley Neighbors Start Work on Street Mural Calling for 'Reparations 

Now!'.” Berkeleyside, 4 Aug. 2022, https://www.berkeleyside.org/2020/07/23/berkeley-neighbors-start-work-on-street-mural-calling-for-reparations-now. 

Organizers of this mural saw this as an opportunity to show the town of Sebastopol that there is a population of minorities living among the white people in the city, who make up nearly 83% of the population (Chavez). Organizers also stated that this mural was inspired by the well-known mural in Washington D.C., as well as the mural in Oakland, which were both very similar.  

This group made their mural unique, by inviting people of the community of Sebastopol to add their handprint to the mural, which consisted of four different colors surrounding the main statement. Organizers made these contributions from the community a fun, party-like event. Community members attended the event, which featured music and a street dancer for entertainment (Chavez). The group was very satisfied with the participation and support from the city.  

However, there was some backlash. Dezi Kai addressed this retaliation in the Press Democrat saying the argument was based on “all lives matter”. Kai later discussed how organizers did a great job simply not telling retaliators that they were wrong, but instead listened to their opinions and offered an educated, peaceful discussion on the matter. Kai added, “We’re also about uplifting everybody’s life, but right now we need to focus on people that have been oppressed for so long and haven’t been seen in our country” (Kai from Chavez).  

According to Google Maps, the mural has faded since its initial creation. 

Sources

“Black Lives Matter Street Mural, Sebastopol, CA.” George Floyd & Anti-Racist Street 

Art, https://georgefloydstreetart.omeka.net/items/show/3443. 

Chavez, Nashelly. “Sebastopol Debuts Black Lives Matter Mural.” Santa Rosa Press 

Democrat, The Press Democrat, 25 July 2020, 

https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/sebastopol-debuts-black-lives-matter-mural/. 

Mencher, Written by Steve. “Sebastopol Celebrates Black Lives Matter in Art - Photos.” 

Northern California Public Media, 

https://norcalpublicmedia.org/2020073048239/news-feed/sebastopol-celebrates-black-lives-matter-in-art-photos.