The event was permitted by the city. The city gave Voces de la Frontera a permit to host a block party from 8 am-5 pm, and to paint the mural with tempera paint. Voces de los Artistas (and the Art Build Workers) took a key role in organizing the street painting action, the banner painting stations, and the screen printing. It was artists working directly in a movement. It was the power of an art affinity group (Voces de los Artistas) in a movement (Voces de la Frontera.) It was the power of youth organizing – YES! (Youth Empowered in the Struggle) with Voces. It was the power of allies in the community volunteering their time and energy. And it was the power of the community to imagine and to fight for a better world.]]>
The Black and Brown Lives Matter street mural in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was created by a group called “Voces de los Artistas” after the phrase “Black Lives Matter” was painted on the street of Washington D.C. on the way to the White House. “Voces de la Artistas” is an art affinity group led by low-wage workers, immigrants and youth working to expand and protect civil rights and workers’ rights through leadership development, community organizing and empowerment.  

This protest movement started after the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. As a neighboring state, Wisconsin has also experienced systemic racism including police brutality. After Jacob Blake was shot and two anti-racist protestors — Anthony Hubber and Joseph Rosenbaum — were murdered, VDLA was motivated to promote the strength of unity and the importance of giving immigrant youth the right to vote, and to end White Supremacy in leadership roles.  

This street art also includes a message saying, “Voting is Power.” 

 This piece of art took nine hours to complete and is 275 feet long by 50 feet tall. It is located in Milwaukee’s South Side, a historic site for the Latinx community. It is located on the 700 block of Historic Mitchell Street, outside of a neighborhood that is heavily populated with white people. The creation of this art was sanctioned. The group was given permission by the city to host an event where artists from Voces de los Artistas would come and paint the mural. During this event, VDLA also hosted an event where children could come in and participate in painting on a sidewalk, banner, and screen printing on t-shirts and posters. The Voting is Power: Black and Brown Lives Matter slogan is still present on the street of Milwaukee’s South Side.  

https://georgefloydstreetart.omeka.net/items/show/3513 

https://www.courant.com/2020/11/13/street-mural-in-windsor-aims-to-unify-community-in-fight-against-racism/ 

Researched by the Urban Art Mapping Team

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News Coverage by Milwaukee Independent]]>
2020-10-10]]>
Photographer: Raymond Moore Jr.]]>
Stephen Larrick, Black Lives Matter Street Mural Census]]>
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News Coverage by The Journal Times, Kenosha News, Spectrum News 1, Patch, and Fox 6]]>
2020-08-02]]>
Photographer: Scott Anderson from Patch]]>
Stephen Larrick, Black Lives Matter Street Mural Census]]>
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News Coverage by Urban Milwaukee and Wisconsin Watch]]>
2020-07-01]]> Black Lives Matter Street Mural Census]]>

The artwork was commissioned by the city of Milwaukee and funded through various corporate and community donations.]]>
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News Coverage by WSIN]]>
2020-06-19]]>
Photographer: Chelsea Lewis and James B. Nelson from Milwaukee Journal Sentinal]]>
Black Lives Matter Street Mural Census]]>
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News Coverage by 27ABC, Channel 3000, and NBC15.

Facebook Post by Freedom Youth Squad on July 7, 2020.

Facebook Post by Freedom Youth Squad on June 17, 2020.]]>
2020-06-17]]>
Photographer: Freedom Inc. via WKOW]]>
Black Lives Matter Street Mural Census]]>
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News coverage by NBC 15 and Empower Wisconsin.

June 08, 2020 Reddit Post.

June 08, 2020 Tweet by Madalyn O'Neill. 

June 09, 2020 Tweet by Sam Li.

June 09, 2020 Facebook post by NBC15 Madison. 

June 09, 2020 Youtube video.]]>
2020-06-08]]> Black Lives Matter Street Mural Census]]>
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