File:Black Lives Matter - St. Pete FL.jpg

In the summer of 2013, Alicia Garza, Opal Tometi and Patrisse Cullors created the Black Lives Matter movement after George Zimmerman, in Florida, was acquitted in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. Garza said that the three Black women wanted to create an online campaign that raised awareness of the daily violence Black women, men and children face in the United States and around the world. After the death of Michael Brown Jr. in Ferguson, Missouri, the following summer, the movement grew into the global network it is today.

Garza explained that Cullors and Darnell Moore, activist, writer and author of No Ashes in the Fire: Coming of Age Black and Free in America, organized a freedom ride in 2014 to Missouri to support organizers who were marching following Brown's death. More than 600 people took part in the movement's first in-person gathering. Many of these organizers, including people who were following the movement outside of Missouri, used BLM tools and resources to address and combat the systemic oppression of Black people in their respective cities.

"When it was time for us to leave, inspired by our friends in Ferguson, organizers from 18 different cities went back home and developed Black Lives Matter chapters in their communities and towns — broadening the political will and movement building reach catalyzed by the #BlackLivesMatter project and the work on the ground in Ferguson," the movement's website reads.

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This Florida-based Black Lives Matter street art project is courtesy of the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum (@cgwoodsonmuseum), the City of St. Pete (@stpetefl) and 16 Amazing local artists. #blacklivesmatter

B- @jujmo⁣⁣⁣

L- @jgascot⁣⁣⁣

A- @painkillercam ⁣⁣⁣

C- @uniquelyoriginalarts⁣

K- @nuclearskyart⁣⁣⁣⁣

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L- @waywardwalls⁣⁣⁣

I- @lauraspencerillustrates⁣⁣⁣⁣

V- @artbyjamese⁣⁣⁣⁣

E- @artist_esh⁣⁣⁣⁣

S- @avacatoto⁣⁣⁣⁣

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M- @freestyletattooz⁣⁣⁣⁣

A- @megasupremo⁣⁣⁣⁣

T- @von.walters⁣⁣⁣⁣

T- @pvo_tattooshop⁣⁣⁣⁣

E- @therealmelpoz⁣⁣⁣⁣

R- @r5imaging⁣⁣⁣⁣

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Layout/Prep: @vitalebros

In Saint Petersburg, Florida

2020

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