100+ volunteers paint ‘Black Lives Matter’ in center of San Francisco street

Melonie-Melorra-Green-Project-Level-lead-‘Black-Lives-Matter’-700-block-Fulton-street-painting-061220-1-by-Meaghan-Mitchell-Hoodline-1400x1050, 100+ volunteers paint ‘Black Lives Matter’ in center of San Francisco street, Local News & Views
Volunteers paint “Black Lives Matter” on the 700 block of Fulton Street. That’s the African American Art & Culture Complex at 762 Fulton on the right. – Photo: Meaghan M. Mitchell, Hoodline

by Meaghan M. Mitchell

Last Friday, Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser asked the city’s Public Works Department to paint “Black Lives Matter” on a street near the White House.

Spelled out in 35-foot-high yellow letters, the rallying cry quickly inspired similar displays in other cities, with activists painting calls to action in Sacramento, Oakland and Raleigh, N.C.

Now, San Francisco has its own “Black Lives Matter” street mural. This morning, June 12, over 100 Fillmore District residents and allies came out to paint the message on Fulton Street between Webster and Octavia streets. Like the D.C. installation, it appears in bright yellow block letters.

Melonie-Melorra-Green-Project-Level-lead-‘Black-Lives-Matter’-700-block-Fulton-street-painting-061220-2-by-Meaghan-Mitchell-Hoodline-1400x1050, 100+ volunteers paint ‘Black Lives Matter’ in center of San Francisco street, Local News & Views
Volunteers cheer after completing the artwork. – Photo: Meaghan M. Mitchell, Hoodline

The project is the brainchild of twin sisters Melonie and Melorra Green, who are the co-executive directors of the African American Art & Culture Complex, and Tyra Fennell of urban art nonprofit Imprint City.

Local artists Malik Seneferu and Andre Jones (aka Nattie Rebe) also contributed to the effort, intended to express solidarity with the ongoing nationwide movement fighting racism and police brutality.

“Today is so special, because Black Lives Matter is coming to San Francisco, at the epicenter of the Black community,” Melorra Green told Hoodline. “The Fillmore, Bayview, Sunnydale – all these communities are San Francisco. There are pioneers here who have paved the way for this community to thrive.”

The group did not seek a city permit to install the art, nor to close off the road while they worked.

Melonie-Melorra-Green-Project-Level-lead-‘Black-Lives-Matter’-700-block-Fulton-street-painting-061220-3-by-Meaghan-Mitchell-Hoodline-1400x1050, 100+ volunteers paint ‘Black Lives Matter’ in center of San Francisco street, Local News & Views
The project was led by Melonie and Melorra Green, co-directors of the African American Art & Culture Complex. – Photo: Meaghan M. Mitchell, Hoodline

Jones, who also worked on Oakland’s Black Lives Matter street, said that the group considers it a nonviolent, peaceful protest and that it sought agreement from neighbors prior to painting.

“The majority of the community has been in total support – we’ve had people scream out the window,” he said. “No harassment. Everyone understands what’s going on, and all the drivers have been accommodating.”

“This is an opportunity to make a stance, to show folks we are here and won’t be forgotten. It’s vital that youth witness this movement.” 

Project Level, a Fillmore-based nonprofit focused on youth arts education, brought a team of youth volunteers to help paint the street. 

“I was born and raised in the Fillmore,” said Danielle Banks, who runs Project Level with her husband, Richard Bougiere. “This is an opportunity to make a stance, to show folks we are here and won’t be forgotten. It’s vital that youth witness this movement.” 

Melonie-Melorra-Green-Project-Level-lead-‘Black-Lives-Matter’-700-block-Fulton-street-painting-061220-4-by-Meaghan-Mitchell-Hoodline-1400x1050, 100+ volunteers paint ‘Black Lives Matter’ in center of San Francisco street, Local News & Views
Young volunteers help paint the street. – Photo: Meaghan M. Mitchell, Hoodline

The Green sisters said that those looking to get involved in the mural project, or donate to the effort, should reach out to them directly

“We want people to support Bay Area mural projects,” Melorra Green said. “We want people to donate to organizations that are led by Black people, not the organizations that are led by well-meaning white people who want to come in and help Black people.”

Melonie-Melorra-Green-Project-Level-lead-‘Black-Lives-Matter’-700-block-Fulton-street-painting-061220-5-by-Meaghan-Mitchell-Hoodline, 100+ volunteers paint ‘Black Lives Matter’ in center of San Francisco street, Local News & Views
Volunteers pose with their paint rollers. – Photo: Meaghan M. Mitchell, Hoodline

Volunteers said they were proud of the art and of seeing the nationwide movement to fight racism represented on the city’s streets.

“There’s nothing more that matters to me than Black lives – my children’s lives, parents’ lives, and everyone that supports and is around me,” said Jones. “Without a doubt, they’re the reason why I’m here painting ‘Black Lives Matter.’”

Bayview Hunters Point native Meaghan Mitchell covers her hood and others for Hoodline. Contact her at @meaghan_m on Twitter.