'All Black Lives Matter' mural: Crews begin permanent art installation on Hollywood Boulevard
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (KABC) -- City of Los Angeles crews on Friday morning began installing a permanent "All Black Lives Matter" mural on an iconic street in Hollywood.
A stretch of Hollywood Boulevard from Highland Avenue to Orange Drive was closed to traffic on Monday so crews could prepare the center of the roadway for the mural.
The permanence of the artwork was approved by the Los Angeles City Council. Crews expect to have it completed on Saturday.
The original mural was painted by volunteers ahead of a massive march against police brutality that drew more than 40,000 people to the streets of Hollywood in June.
The permanent version is smaller than the original one with towering letters but leaders say its significance isn't diminished.
Luckie Alexander, the artist who created the initial installation and the permanent one, was joined by L.A. Councilman Mitch O'Farrell to paint some of the letters Friday.
"History is being made and it's been a very remarkable year and this gives voice to the marches for justice, this really gives voice to that in a permanent way," O'Farrell said.
