If silence is violence, the residents of Oakland have an answer for that; art. Throughout Saturday artists of all ages and ethnicities took their paint, paintbrushes and spray paint to claim boarded windows in Downtown Oakland as forms of beautiful expression.
If there was ever a question of what is on the minds of the people of Oakland, just stroll down Broadway by Frank Ogawa Plaza where mass looting and fires took place just the week before, you will see vibrant colors of work with inclusive words of solidarity.
Protesters flooded the streets of downtown Oakland May 29, 2020 as a far-right militia group came to attack police. One gunman identified as a far-right group member “boogaloo boys” shot two Federal Protective Service officers, killing one and wounding another. The Oakland Police Department reacted by issuing a deployed tear gas on protesters who were approaching the downtown police headquarters next to the federal building which the service officers were shot. Protesters dispersed throughout the downtown area and mostly remained peaceful but looting continued through the night.
The following days continued with protests, as downtown business remained boarded up and buildings were left covered in spray paint messages like “ACAB.”
The morning of June 6, many local community groups and organizations had posted clean up plans for downtown. Artists started to take claims for build boards to showcase their art and statements of resilience in the aftermath of the protests,
Black mothers brought their children to take pictures in front of the artwork, which said things like “Black girls deserve better” and “Black Lives Matter.” Another quoted George Floyds, daughter Gionna Floyd who has been seen in a viral video saying, “Daddy changed the world.”
An alter tributing Breonna Taylor, a Black woman who was shot and killed in her sleep by police who entered the wrong home on a no-knock search warrant, had balloons, candles and happy birthday wishes for Taylor. She would have turned 27-years-old June 5.
The murals extend into Chinatown which was also hard hit by looting. A community clean up plan for Chinatown was also scheduled for Sunday from GoodGoodEatz on Instagram asking for volunteers to bring their brooms and sign up.
Photogallery Slideshow
Daddy changed the world.
– Gianna Floyd
Video Footage of Art in Action
We Want An Immediate End to Police Brutality and the Murder of Black People.
– Black Panther Party of Self Defense, Number 7 of the Ten-Point Program
Remains from the aftermath of protests, the entrance of city hall has “ACAB” spay painted on the left column, and BLM spray painted on the right column. “ACAB” being a common acronym among certain anarchist to mean “All cops are bastards” because they believe there is no possible way anyone can participate in a corrupt system meant to imprison and create modern day slavery and be a “good cop.” A candle vigil is placed at the front of Oakland City Hall doors. One sign says “Take back our city.” Many Black women walked passed, stopped and observed the vigil with their children. Photography by Michelle Dione.
