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/