George Floyd Victims of Police Brutality

Robert "Running Fisher" Upham (lead artist); Sacred Point of View

George Floyd Victims of Police Brutality

209 5th Ave. E. Olympia, WA, USA

This is a large and complex mural that expresses solidarity between Black and Indigenous people in the face of racism and police violence. Set against a vibrant yellow background with an abstract landscape and geometric patterns, George Floyd's portrait appears with large text reading "George Floyd." The portrait of Floyd is given extra vibrancy by adding a twinkle to his eyes.

Additional references are made to others killed in acts of racially-motivated police brutality, such as John T. Williams, Jeanetta Riley, Sarah Lee Circle Bear, Daniel Covarrabius, Jackie Salyers. Manuel Ellis, Stonechild Chiefstick and Mantry Norris.

Below the George Floyd section is the word "Genocide." The left side of the mural references John T. Williams (Native American woodcarver murdered by the Seattle police in 2010) and includes large text reading "Human Rights" and a reference to BLM, along with a beautiful seascape. The right side of the composition includes potent symbols of Native identity, including petroglyphs, and fish. Sitting Bull, also killed in an act of violence that took many Native lives, is also depicted here.

A note from the artist: "The way in which George Floyd was murdered stirred up some deep feelings, and I felt strongly that I needed to do something in response--my nephew, niece and other members of my family have died in needless and violent ways. This is, unfortunately, a common story in Indian country as well as in the Black community. These murals were my way of grieving. Many people contributed to the George Floyd mural. At last count, I figure at least 40 people did small and large contributions--from adding names of their relatives to bringing stencils."

The work was removed and relocated on June 23, 2020.

Additional information:

Atlas Obscura

Video featuring the artist

News article about the work

Sacred Point of View Gallery

Reference article: Native Lives Matter

This photograph, showing Robert "Running Fisher" Upham with his grandchildren, was submitted by the artist and is used here with permission from the family.

Robert "Running Fisher" Upham and Sacred Point of View

Urban Art Mapping Research Project

HS

UAM-GF_0845

George Perry Floyd (October 14, 1973 - May 25, 2020) was a 46-year-old Black American man who was murdered by former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin after Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck for nearly 9 minutes in the Powderhorn neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 25, 2020. Floyd’s murder sparked an international movement for Black Lives Matter, the largest civil rights movement of the century. On March 12, 2021, the city of Minneapolis agreed to pay $27 million to settle a wrongful death lawsuit brought by Floyd's family. On June 25, 2021, Chauvin was sentenced to 22.5 years in prison for his crimes.

Manuel “Mannie” Elijah Ellis (August 28, 1986 - March 3, 2020) was a 33-year-old Black American man from Tacoma, Washington who was killed by hypoxia through physical restraint by Tacoma Police Officers on March 3, 2020.