“Going at it with true people power.” That’s the message behind new murals in Tucson, says Brandon Rogers, president of the University of Arizona Black Student Union.

Tucson is long known for murals that document the city’s lives and history. In February, Rogers and community members gathered to paint a fuller picture of Black history in their hometown. Anaya Shavers is social media director of the Black Student Union and designed the dedications.

The art highlights themes of resistance, community and the legacy of Black liberation that extend far beyond any designated days of Black History Month.

UA’s Black Student Union and the Party for Socialism and Liberation organized the event. People gathered for an afternoon of painting, listening to music from a live DJ and connecting with local voices and artists.

Anaya Shavers, social media director of the Black Student Union at the University of Arizona, stands in front of the completed community murals at AZ Motel in Tucson on Feb. 22. Shavers designed all three murals for this event. Credit: Alma Velazquez

Organizers say the artwork will remain on display so the murals can reach people across and beyond Arizona. “AZ Motel allowed us to use this space to spread important work,” Rogers says.

Among the paintings — hanging on a black iron fence and before a spiky desert palm tree — are messages from different communities rising for humanity: “Black Lives Matter. Free Palestine. Abolish ICE.”

Brandon Rogers, president of the Black Student Union at the University of Arizona, at the community mural at AZ Motel in Tucson on Feb. 22. Rogers says that the murals will stay up at AZ Motel after they are completed to spread Black liberation to the city of Tucson. “The owners at AZ Motel allowed us to use this space to work and spread important work. Going at it with true people power” Credit: Alma Velazquez

See more photos from the event:

  • Three completed murals at AZ Motel in Tucson on Feb. 22. These murals, designed by Anaya Shavers of the Black Student Union, celebrate 100 years of Black History Month and show Black liberation. Credit: Alma Velazquez
  • People paint and talk at the community mural at AZ Motel in Tucson on Feb. 22. The event had a DJ set behind the murals to keep the welcoming and good vibes. Credit: Alma Velazquez
  • Quincy Mouzet (left) and Lio Plantillas show their artwork after they made their mark on the community mural at AZ Motel in Tucson on Feb. 22. They are both part of Students for Socialism at the University of Arizona. Credit: Alma Velazquez
  • Sam Paredes, member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation at the community mural at AZ Motel in Tucson on Feb. 22. PSL collaborated with the Black Student Union at the University of Arizona on the event. Credit: Alma Velazquez

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Alma Velazquez is a University of Arizona student studying journalism and Spanish. She is a photojournalism intern at Arizona Luminaria.