CHARLOTTE, N.C. – As protests continue around the world against racism and police brutality after the death of George Floyd, one of the Queen City’s most busiests streets is got a fresh coat of paint with a message: Black Lives Matter.

On Tuesday morning, pictures began circulating online showing an outline of the giant letters that are now filled in with vibrant colors and patterns. More than a dozen artists and groups like Charlotte is Creative, Brand the Moth, and BLKMRKTCLT collaborated with the City of Charlotte for the installation. The city paid the artists $500 per letter from the Place Making budget. Those funds had to be spent by the end of the fiscal year which is this month. 

A similar mural was painted in Raleigh after the mayor of Washington D.C. revealed one in the Nation’s Capital leading up to the White House. Mayor Muriel Bowser also renamed that area, “Black Lives Matter Plaza.”

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South Tryon Street in the heart of Uptown was closed between 3^rd and 4^th streets, but opened back up later that evening. The artists, and the many people who came to see the mural, all took a knee before streets reopened. 

These are the artists whose work is on display:

• Dammit Wesley, @dammit_wesley
• Dakotah Aiyanna, @dakotahaiyanna
• Matthew Clayburn, @matthewclayburn
• Abel Jackson, @artbyabel
• Garrison Gist, @2gzandcountin
• Owl & Arko, @owl.clt and @arko.clt
• Kyle Mosher, @thekylemosher
• Franklin Kernes, @fk.creative
• Kiana Mui, @kmuii  
• Marcus Kiser, @marcus_kiser
• Georgie Nakima, @gardenofjourney
• Zach McLean, @part_t1m3
• Frankie Zombie, @frankie.zombie_
• CHD:WCK!, @chdwckart
• John Hairston, @jagolactus_
• Dari Calamari, @daricalamari