ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — St. Petersburg now has its very own "Black Lives Matter" hand-painted street mural, inspired by the mural painted in Washington D.C. in an area near the White House now renamed Black Lives Matter Plaza.

But there are some who say the location of the St. Pete mural misses the mark.

What You Need To Know


  • New mural painted on 9th Avenue S. in front of Carter G. Woodson Museum

  • Former NAACP St. Pete chapter president says different location would have made stronger statement

  • Mayor Rick Kriseman, Rep. Charlie Crist will help unveil mural during Juneteenth celebration

  • More Pinellas County stories

Both Terri Lipsey Scott and Maria Scruggs agreed that seeing the big, bold yellow letters spelling out "Black Lives Matter" on the ground with the White House in the distance was a sight that spoke volumes for them.

“I was moved to tears,” said Lipsey Scott. “The idea that there was such fortitude to decide to make such a bold statement in our nation's capitol, it just resonated with me in such an amazing way.”

“What was more important is it lead up to the White House. That was powerful,” Scruggs said. “And to see that black female mayor do it? It made a statement. And I thought 'wow, what would that look like in St. Petersburg?'”

Lipsey Scott, the executive director of the Carter G. Woodson Museum in South St. Pete, thought the same thing. She reached out to city council member Lisa Wheeler Brown requesting help to get the mural completed.

Days later, 16 muralists showed up and now those big, bold letters spelling out "black lives matter" are now permanently on 9th Avenue South in front of the museum.

“What better starting place for such a mural in our community than at the doorsteps of where we preserve, present and interpret African American history?” Lipsey Scott said.

But Scruggs, a former St. Pete chapter president of the NAACP, said she can think of a number of other more impactful locations the mural could’ve been painted.

“Given the significance of the north versus the south, can you imagine what kind of impact or what kind of discussions would take place with that mural going down Central Avenue? Just the symbolism,” Scruggs said. “That won’t happen on 9th avenue.”

Scruggs added that 9th Avenue South isn’t heavily traveled and the mural is now on display in a predominantly black community that doesn’t need to be reminded that black lives matter.

But Lipsey Scott said she sees it as a win for the community and a statement, just in time for the Juneteenth celebration on Friday.

“In my imagination I would like to see this message resonate throughout our community," she explained. "And again what better backdrop than the African American museum as a starting point for this message throughout our community?”

St. Pete Mayor Rick Kriseman and Rep. Charlie Crist will be among those attending the unveiling of the mural at the Juneteenth celebration.