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This photo collage is a tribute to the mural artists who brought powerful messages, hope, and joy to downtown Oakland following the Black Lives Matter protests in the spring of 2020. As voices of anger, grief, and frustration rang out in the streets, vibrant imagery began to appear on the boarded up storefronts. Artists spread across Oakland painting the plywood with both inspiring words and strong calls to action. Walking among the murals on a beautiful sunny morning in early June, the message was loud and clear that Oakland is Still Proud. This collage was assembled as a birthday present for my daughter Madeline, who urged me to go downtown to see the murals in person. Luckily the DeYoung Open provided a way to share these important, beautiful, historic images with others who could not be there.

Beatrice Moe

beatiemoe@comcast.net