New Mural Honors Milwaukee Activists
Mural depicts Frank Nitty, Tommy Franecki, Vaun Mayes, Markasa Tucker and others.

Partially finished activist mural. From left to right, Vaun Mayes, Markasa Tucker, Tommy Franecki, Elle Halo, Jeremiah Thomas, Khalil Coleman, Sam Alford and Frank Nitty. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
A new mural honors the individuals at the forefront of Milwaukee’s protest movement.
Located on the N. 14th St. facade of a building at 1334 W. Vliet St., the mural depicts Frank Nitty, Sam Alford, Khalil Coleman, Jeremiah Thomas, Elle Halo, Tommy Franecki, Markasa Tucker and Vaun Mayes.
The mural, painted on Sunday, reflects many of the most prominent local figures in the grassroots movement that is a response to the killing of George Floyd and other police killings. Since May 29th dozens of marches and other events have been held that have drawn thousands of attendees.
Nitty and Coleman have been a constant presence leading protest marches, as have Franecki and Thomas. The duos have led separate marches that regularly intersect as they crisscross the city’s streets.
The mural, organized by artist Chris Burke, depicts all of them side-by-side. Each portrait was painted by a different artist.
Tucker, who serves as the director of the African-American Roundtable and Mayes, a community organizer, have been regularly present at marches and online events. Mayes was arrested today for reasons that aren’t clear, as Urban Milwaukee has reported. Alford and Halo are also leaders within the grassroots movement.
All of the individuals portrayed are Black.
“The most dope thing aside from it existing, is that young people can finally see that you don’t have to be a rapper, play sports, etc to be great or immortalized in people’s minds and hearts,” said Mayes in an interview Monday morning. “History is more than what we read in books. Milwaukee has a rich and diverse group of people dedicated to ending violence, bridging gaps, and addressing the social ills of racism and white supremacy. That story has begun to be told with these murals, so we are grateful and indebted to the artists.”
Mayes and other activists have asked that Tory Lowe be added to the piece.
The portraits were painted by Burke, Shawn DeKay, Hannah Butz, John Tierney, Ruben Alcantar, Andre Colbert andJohn Fleissner.
Additional work is expected to be completed on the piece in the coming days.
New Holton St. Mural
Burke, Alcantar and other artists had a busy weekend.
In partnership with Franecki, Burke and Alcantar led the painting of a second mural on a building at N. Holton St. and E. Center St.
Wrapping around a building at 505 E. Center St., the mural is centered on depictions of Dontre Hamilton, Sandra Bland and Sylville Smith. Hamilton and Smith were killed by Milwaukee police officers in the past six years. Brand was found hanged in a Texas jail in 2015 after being arrested in a traffic stop.
What does Franecki hope people take away from the second mural?
“I want people to know that these are our people. These are the lives and these are the stories that we need to continue talking about,” he said. “This movement is more than just about protests. It’s about justice for people like Dontre Hamilton, Sandra Bland, Sylville Smith, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Riah Milton, Dominique Fells, Tony McDade, Nina Pop, and many others.”
This was the fourth major mural painted on the border of the Riverwest and Harambee neighborhoods in the past month. Earlier murals depict Taylor, Floyd, Hamilton and others.
“It’s about reform and improving the lives for our children,” said Franecki of the art. “It’s about changing the face on education on black history and it’s about making sure that we don’t have to walk in fear of a justice system that continues to fail us over and over again.”
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More about the 2020 Racial Justice Protests
- Evers Reflects on Year of Pandemic, Protests - Shawn Johnson - Dec 28th, 2020
- The Year of the National Guard - Jenny Peek - Dec 28th, 2020
- Baldwin Questions U.S. Marshall’s Role in Tosa Protests - Isiah Holmes - Dec 19th, 2020
- Op Ed: Vote No on COPS Grant - Markasa Tucker - Dec 18th, 2020
- People’s Revolution Marks 200 Days of Protest - Graham Kilmer - Dec 15th, 2020
- Supervisor Clancy Applauds Activists on 200th Day of Protests - Sup. Ryan Clancy - Dec 14th, 2020
- The “Molotov Cocktail” That Wasn’t - Jeramey Jannene - Oct 23rd, 2020
- City Hall: Police Chief, Alderman Fight Over Use of Canines - Jeramey Jannene - Oct 23rd, 2020
- Will BLM Movement Sway State Voters? - Bridgit Bowden - Oct 20th, 2020
- City Hall: Community Groups Propose Changes - Jeramey Jannene - Oct 19th, 2020
Read more about 2020 Racial Justice Protests here