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Black Lives Matter mural repainted in Santa Cruz after vandalism

A Black Lives Matter mural that was previously vandalized in front of Santa Cruz City Hall got a new paint job over the weekend.

Santa Cruz Equity collaborated with multiple community members to patch up the mural.

The mural, originally painted during the 2020 racial protests, has been repainted multiple times before.

Some say that people should always practice equality, not just when the mural draws public attention…

Organizers say the mural is just one step toward practicing equality, but it is not the final step.

"The mural is a place for us to start the work around highlighting black lives in our community, especially Santa Cruz," Speak for Change podcast host Thomas Sage Pedersen said. "It's not enough as a mural in itself, but it's a place for conversation. Remember black lives matter. It sucks that we have to keep on saying it but that's the truth."

The mural was vandalized back in 2021 and 2023. People are hoping it won't happen a third time.

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Sergio Berrueta

Sergio Berrueta has been in the news for quite awhile going from studying print media to entering the realm of broadcast.

Originally from Bell Gardens, California, in Southeast Los Angeles. Berrueta started his professional news career in Eureka as a newscast producer for North Coast News (now The Northstate’s News) at KAEF ABC 23 in 2022. He pivoted a year later in 2022 going from behind-the-scenes to in front of the camera as a multimedia journalist for Redwood News Channel 3 (KIEM/KVIQ) also in Eureka.

Berrueta studied journalism at Humboldt State University (now Cal Poly Humboldt) earning his Bachelor’s Degree. Berrueta was a staff writer, page editor, social media manager and editor-in-chief of the university’s El Lenador, the only bilingual publication in all of Humboldt County.

Before moving to the North Coast, Berrueta had earned his Associate’s Degree at East Los Angeles College in 2019 after beginning his educational journey in 2012. He also was on staff for the ELAC’s publication, ELAC Campus News, having been a staff writer, page editor, and online editor.

Outside of news experience, Berrueta has also been in education as an AmeriCorps tutor in East Hollywood from 2017 to 2019 and served in a government role as a National Hometown Fellow for Lead for America with the City of Arcata in 2021.

When not focusing on news, Berrueta is an avid amateur cinephile having written about films in free time. He also writes poetry, attempting to get through a backlog of video games, enjoys visiting new places along the California Coast, and trying to keep up with the latest music and podcasts.

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