Local West Hollywood residents woke up today to a splash of pink, blue and white, smack in the center of the Rainbow District on the Santa Monica Boulevard and San Vicente Boulevard intersection. A giant transgender flag mural has been painted between the two rainbow crosswalks at the intersection ahead of the All Black Lives Matter March that is coming to West Hollywood and ending at that intersection. The March is not sponsored, nor has a permit been approved by the City of West Hollywood.
The painting went up last night, Saturday, June 13, at around 11pm, and was almost completed at around 1am this morning. It is not clear if the newly painted street was approved by the City. We reached out to a City official who said he had no clue who painted the flag, and that he was not aware of the City of approving a mural on Santa Monica Boulevard. West Hollywood Mayor Lindsey Horvath was at the scene briefly and there was police presence blocking the street to make sure participants were safe, so it wasn’t exactly a rogue operation.
Photo by Paulo Murillo for WEHO TIMES
Photo by Paulo Murillo for WEHO TIMES
Photo by Paulo Murillo for WEHO TIMESThe All Black Lives Matter March is happening today, Sunday, June 14, at 11am, despite resistance and controversy marring the march since Christopher Street West (CSW) first announced that it was planning the host it earlier this month. CSW pulled from the march after L.A. Pride organizers were criticized for seeking a police permit to hold the event and for not collaborating with Black Lives Matter Los Angeles leadership before announcing it.
The All Black Lives Matter march is now being organized by a newly formed Black Advisory Board made up of Black LGBTQ+ leaders and organizations. On the event’s website, the board posted a statement announcing a protest “in direct response to racial injustice, systemic racism, and all forms of oppression.”
The organization rounded up a group of community members yesterday, Saturday, June 13, and painted a giant All Black Lives Matter mural on Hollywood Boulevard on Saturday, June 13.
Photo by Paulo Murillo for WEHO TIMES
ALL Black Lives Matter Instagram Screen Grab“Here it is!!!” reads an All Black Lives Matter Instagram post. “The completion of our #AllBlackLivesMatter mural. We encourage everyone to view the site, take pictures, and please tag #ablmla. We are leading our march in solidarity of ALL black trans lives that fought for us and that were taken away from us by senseless violence. Special thank you to @trailerparkgroup & #CouncilmemberOFarrell for community efforts.
#AllBlackLivesMatter 🌈✊🏿🖤””
It has not yet been announced whether there will be speakers at the beginning or the end of the All Black Matters March.
Below are frequently asked questions about the march pulled from the All Black Lives Matter Website:
Q. What time and where does the All Black Lives Matter protest march begin?
A. The All Black Lives Matter protest march will begin at 12:00pm, with a pre-march program beginning at 11:00am on June 14, 2020. The protest march will start at Hollywood Blvd. and Highland Ave. and end at Santa Monica and San Vicente Blvds.
Q. Is the All Black Lives Matter protest march in place of LA Pride?
A. The All Black Lives Matter protest march is not being organized in collaboration with Christopher Street West or LA Pride. While CSW was participating early on, CSW is not an organizer, collaborator, nor does it have an affiliation with the protest march. CSW does support and stand in full solidarity with the All Black Lives Matter protest march.
Q. Will there be booths and music?
A. Theprotestmarchwillnothaveboothsormusic.
Q. Who’s in charge?
A. Black LGBTQ+ Activists for Change (BLAC) is an independent collective of diverse Black LGBTQ+ leaders and community members. This group of individuals are all equal voices and representatives of the All Black Lives Matter protest march.
Q. How can I donate?
A. ABLM welcomes in-kind donations. Considering COVID-19 regulation, we must limit which products we accept and how we accept them. Please send all donation inquiries to [email protected].
Q. How can I volunteer?
A. ABLM welcomes volunteers. Please send all volunteer inquiries to [email protected].
Q. Which organizations are involved in the All Black Lives Matter march?
A. BlackLGBTQ+ActivistsforChange(BLAC)consistsofanindependentgroupofBlack LGBTQ+ community members and representatives. The original collaborative organizations of BLAC include: AMAAD Institute, Black Lesbians United (BLU), Black Lives Matter Los Angeles (BLM-LA), B.A.S.H. LA, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Compton Pride, Garth Management Group, The Glasswing Group, Invisible Men, LA Black LGBTQ Movement, Unique Woman’s Coalition, Vision Church Los Angeles.
Individuals and supporting agencies are welcomed to sign on. For more information and for at www.ablm.la.
Q. Is the All Black Lives Matter protest march soliciting t corporate sponsors?
A. TherearenocorporatesponsorshipsconnectedtoorinvolvedwiththeAllBlackLives Matter protest march. Any donation requests should be sent to [email protected].
Q. What should I wear?
A. The All Black Lives Matter protest march is designed to highlight and amplify All Black Lives, particularly Black LGBTQ+ lives. Participants are encouraged to dress comfortably and how they feel most representative of their solidarity with Black LGBTQ+ lives.
This trans flag NEEDS TO STAY PERMANENTLY.
It’s about time there be more visible signs of trans inclusion in West Hollywood. As a woman of transgender experience, my sisters and I have felt sidelined for years by the dominant white male culture that permeates WeHo. Now the question remains whether this painting is a token gesture or a permanent statement of solidarity.