Sebastopol debuts Black Lives Matter mural

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Sebastopol debuts Black Lives Matter mural
NASHELLY CHAVEZ
July 24, 2020, 9:54PM

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About 250 people showed up Friday afternoon at the Sebastopol town plaza to leave their personal mark on a new mural with a clear message: Black Lives Matter.

A group of young Sebastopol activists energized over recent protests against the killing of Black men and women created the mural, which consisted of the words “Black Lives Matter” painted in bright yellow letters on a walkway in the square, said Dezi Kai, a senior at Analy High School who helped organize the public display.

It was inspired by similar street murals with the same message that have cropped up in places including Washington, D.C., and Oakland in recent weeks, Kai said.

On Friday, community members were invited to help put the finishing touches on the Sebastopol version of the street mural by adding multicolored handprints around the yellow lettering.

The mural was of special significance for Sebastopol, where few Black residents live, Kai said.

Nearly 83% of the town is white, U.S. Census figures showed. Black residents made up 2% of the town’s population and about 10% are Latino.

“A lot of us kind of feel not seen in our community and in our schools,” said Kai, who is Black. “This was a way to say, ’Hey, we’re here.’”

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