
In the winter of 2012, 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was fatally shot on his walk back from buying Skittles at a 7-Eleven. In July of 2013, the shooter, who had claimed self-defense despite the fact that Martin was unarmed, was acquitted of all charges.
The day the news came out that Trayvon Martin’s killer would be allowed to walk free, the Black Lives Matter movement was born.
Two years later, the movement gained national recognition after protests broke out in response to two more deaths: Eric Garner and Michael Brown. Since then, the grassroots movement has led to repeated protests and a growing awareness of the nonstop brutality and injustice that Black people face every single day in this country.
For anyone who wants to spread the message that Black Lives Matter and raise awareness about the injustice and violence that are everyday occurrences for Black people, here are 15 free designs you can use for Black Lives Matter posters.
Share them across social media. Print them out to fly at a protest or plaster them around your town. All 15 were designed by Black artists with the intent to make them free to print and share:
Free Black Lives Matter Posters and Wallpaper Art to Show Your Support for the Movement
1. Black Lives Matter Solidarity – Adrian Meadows

Download the print or social media version here.
2. Say Their Names – Adrian Meadows

Download the print or social media version here.
3. I Am Changing the Things I Cannot Accept – Edinah

Download the print or social media version here.
4. Silence Is Betrayal – Edinah

Download the print or social media version here.
5. Black Lives Matter Series – Hust Wilson

Download the print or social media version here.

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6. Black Lives Matter Series – Hust Wilson

Download the print or social media version here.
7. Black Lives Matter Series – Hust Wilson

Download the print or social media version here.
8. Black Lives Matter Series – Hust Wilson

Download the print or social media version here.
9. Uncle Sam’s a Power Junkie – Emmanuel Wisdom

Download the print or social media version here.
10. Power to the Black People – Leandro Assis

Download the print or social media version here.
11. June 2020 – Rick Griffith

Download the print or social media version here.
12. Defend Black Lives – Gia Graham

Download the print or social media version here.
13. Fight the Power – Kevin Adams

Download the print or social media version here.
14. This Stops Right Now – Eso Tolson

Download the print or social media version here.
15. No More Black Death – David Jon Walker

Download the print or social media version here.
How to Use Your Black Lives Matter Posters
These Black Lives Matter posters are not just meant for decoration. They are meant to be used as part of an effort to create social change. Here are some ideas and tips for doing just that:
Put Black Lives Matter Posters Everywhere
Make it the background and profile photo across all your social media. Hang them in your window. Put a lawn sign in your yard. Print out a poster-size version to use as a sign during a protest. Staple it to lampposts.
The more these Black Lives Matter posters are seen, the more we can keep the country’s attention on the issues that the Black Lives Matter movement is trying to address.
Attend Protests
The best place to display these Black Lives Matter posters is at a protest! This way, you’re spreading the message and showing up for the cause all at once. Connect with a local chapter of Black Lives Matter by searching “Black Lives Matter” with the name of your town on Google.
Print out one or more of the Black Lives Matter posters above and glue it to cardboard or other lightweight material that you can hold up while you march.
When you attend a protest, keep the following guidelines in mind:
- Read through your rights as a protestor. You have the right to be in public spaces like streets, sidewalks, and parks. You have the right to speak. You have the right to take pictures and video recordings. You don’t need a permit to march on streets or sidewalks if you’re not blocking traffic.
- If you believe your rights have been violated, write down all the information you can about the incident. Include the patrol car number and badge numbers of the officers involved. Get contact information from witnesses. Photograph any injuries immediately. File a complaint with the agency the officers work for.
- Bring a backpack with water, snacks, and a change of clothes. Water and snacks are self-explanatory. The change of clothes is in case you are exposed to irritating substances like pepper spray.
- Bring a facemask, hat, and sunglasses. Even when there isn’t a pandemic going on, these can help minimize damage and irritation from pepper spray and other irritants police might use on protestors.
- Wear all black if you can. This is what a lot of other protesters will be wearing as it will help you blend into the crowd and avoid being singled out by the police. For the same reason, cover any tattoos or other distinguishing marks when possible.
- If you’re a non-Black ally attending a Black Lives Matter protest, do your best to educate yourself and don’t make it about you. If Black organizers are speaking, don’t interrupt them. If the press tries to speak to you, point them in the direction of a Black organizer or protester who might be more qualified to speak on the issue.
Include Information and Resources When You Post on Social Media
When you’re posting this artwork on social media, include a caption that provides more background on the issues. Then, link to sources where your followers can take action, donate, or otherwise show their support for the movement.
If you’re not sure what to write in your captions, the Black Lives Matter website provides some resources to help you.
This toolkit for Black and non-Black POC activists includes some talking points, hashtags, and other useful information to help you craft a caption that supports the cause. For white allies of the movement, this toolkit includes great information on how to show support and have difficult conversations with other white people.
After spreading the message with these free Black Lives Matter posters, here are some other ways you can support the movement:
- Sign up for Black Lives Matter email updates to stay up to date on the latest actions and events.
- Buy a shirt, sweater, face mask, or other Black Lives Matter gear directly from the movement so that all proceeds go to the cause.
- Donate to Black Lives Matter to help fund future actions and the BLM Survival Fund.