| George Floyd mural | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Artist | Emma Berger |
| Year | 2020 (2020) |
| Location | Portland, Oregon, United States |
| Coordinates | 45°31′04″N122°40′39″W / 45.5179°N 122.6775°W /45.5179; -122.6775 |
A mural ofGeorge Floyd was painted by Emma Berger outsidePortland, Oregon'sApple Pioneer Place, on June 1, 2020, a week followinghis murder, against the background of theongoing protests against police brutality. She expanded the mural to showAhmaud Arbery andBreonna Taylor and phrases associated with theBlack Lives Matter movement. The work was vandalized in August, and repaired by the artist. It was covered byApple Inc. in December for preservation, then removed in January 2021 to be donated toDon't Shoot PDX.
Emma Berger painted a mural ofGeorge Floyd outsideApple Pioneer Place indowntown Portland, on June 1, 2020. She completed the mural, which depicted Floyd and the phrase "I can't breathe", in approximately two hours and without seeking permission.[1][2] Berger later added the faces ofAhmaud Arbery andBreonna Taylor,[3][4] as well as the phrases "black lives matter" and "say their names". The image of Floyd is 8-foot (2.4 m) tall. Berger invited other artists to contribute to the mural; more faces, names, and background imagery were added on June 4. More artworks were added to the surrounding area.[5]
The mural was vandalized in August 2020; the text "It's okay to be white" was written in spray-paint. Berger returned to repair the artwork.[6]In December 2020, Apple covered the mural for preservation.[7][8] The work was removed in January 2021,[9] and donated toDon't Shoot PDX.[10][9]
The memorial was expanded by community members, who wrote poems using chalk and added candles.[1] People also left flowers, pictures, and signs.[5][11] According toKOIN's Ken Boddie, the work "became a national symbol".[10]
Apple described the mural as "a monumental art piece honoring the ongoing fight for justice" and said in a statement: "Apple stands in support of the artists and all who are fighting for social and racial justice. We are honored to have hosted the murals and are very happy to entrust the artwork to Don't Shoot Portland in support of their advocacy for social change."[12] Don't Shoot PDX said the paintings "reflect the responses of so many that were witnesses to last summer's uprisings, answering the joint call to action against institutionalized violence andwhite nationalism".[12]
