They are names that are integral to the story of the past year:
George Floyd.
Breonna Taylor.
Ahmaud Arbery.
There are far too many other names, too, in recent memory and throughout our history. All of them are part of a tragic narrative: African Americans who lost their lives in large part because of the institutional racism deeply rooted in our country.
As people from around the world marched in the streets to call for change, we in King County were reminded of our obligation to recognize and address the systemic problems that our African American — and all of our BIPOC communities — face daily.
At Metro, we know Black Lives Matter. We also know that Black Lives Matter is a movement, not a moment. That movement is a call for all of us to stand together for racial equity — for racial justice across our community. This means we also stand with our Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) community, and grieve the tragic events last week in Georgia.
All across King County and our country, there is an awakening taking place. An awakening of the national conscience to the brutal reality of racism and bias throughout our society. It is an awakening which we can hope, in time, will have a lasting, positive impact.
As part of our work toward meeting the equity and social justice challenges in the county that bears the name of America’s foremost human rights leader, we asked the talented employees of Metro to show us what “Black Lives Matter” meant to them.
You’ll see the historic vision of transit operator Robert L. Horton on two 60-foot Metro coaches, which have been fully “wrapped” with his art.

Transit operator Sandra Padilla’s work features images of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Aiyana Jones, who was just 7 years old when she was killed during a police raid in 2010. Their faces will be visible on the outside of 200 Metro coaches.

Family is the focus of the designs created by Juan G. Hood III from Metro’s Facilities division. His work will be part of a poster display across all Metro worksites county-wide.

In each display, Metro’s employee-artists voice their concerns about the current state of equity and social justice in America, and their belief that the fight for equality continues.
We are honored to display these powerful artistic statements throughout Metro and the communities that are part of our regional mobility system. But we acknowledge that it’s just a start — at Metro and in all of America. For us to make things right, we need to fully reconcile what’s gone wrong and what’s still not working.
At Metro, we are reimagining safety, security and fare enforcement. We are reaching out to members of the community, working with them to envision what a safe and welcoming Metro looks like for BIPOC members, and co-creating a system that serves and treats everyone fairly and with dignity. We are developing regular forums through which leadership can listen and learn from the personal truths and experiences of employees.
Confronting systemic racism, and taking the necessary steps to fight it, honors the lives lost. As we remember George, Breonna, and Ahmaud, we need to ensure that they, and so many others—both known and unknown—are celebrated, recognized, and remembered. But we also need to continue working and let our actions be the next step toward reaching Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Beloved Community.”
This is the start of a conversation we look forward to having with everyone in our community.
Terry White is General Manager of King County Metro.
YouTube video link: “Metro knows Black Lives Matter”
Photoshelter resource for media outlets and partners to download high-quality images and video: King County Metro: Black Lives Matter (photoshelter.com)
Media contact: Al Sanders, asanders@kingcounty.gov, 206 348 7829
Was the “artist” going for an NYC look? Because those buses look like vandalized subway trains, suggesting an urban society in inexorable decline. Very embarassing.
What a waste of taxpayer money.
I left suburban Seattle in 1955 at age 13 & hated to leave such a great city. Had a job offer there in ’97 but when I saw what a s–thole it was becoming I passed on the job. Seems it’s only deteriorated monstrously since then, But what Dem/Prog city/state hasn’t?
“This is the start of a conversation we look forward to having with everyone in our community.”
No, this is the antithesis to a “conversation.” It is one-way propaganda, write large on city buses. It is a power play, pure and simple. Doubt me? Just look at what happens to people when they speak out against it in public. All you are doing is driving a further wedge between those who abide by reason and those who dwell in ideology.
You are correct. By adding a reply to the post. I was attacked, threatened, called racist, I saw nothing buy hate spew from people. No one is allowed to state their view on this, unless you agree with the far left and the people who support BLM. This is causing people to not unite but be futher apart.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/oakland-500-month-basic-income-residents/
Government sanctioned racism over in Oakland, out in the open. This is a sad, sad day.
I wonder if Mayor Jenny will be riding these buses – with her armed guards – to protect her from the BLM & Antifa “peaceful protesters”
WHAT A JOKE THIS CITY HAS BECOME!!!
But – we should have other buses with the faces of other fentanyl addicts dedicated around the city
The article references “systemic racism” – why does this city CONSTANTLY display “systemic stupidity”
I used to love Seattle, I live in Vancouver, Wa. I will never visit Seattle again until this madness ends.
I think they should load up all of these buses with BLM supporters and drop them off at the homes of all the King County Metro employees who supported and approved of this wonderful “artwork” and show them what BLM “equity” is all about…..Lol.
So when are we going to see artwork representing Asian Discrimination? How bout Native Americans? Latinos? The list goes on.
I for one will not be riding any of these buses until all people are represented equally.
Can’t wait to move out of this state. What a waste.
I’ll never take my family downtown ever again. We will be moving out of WA state this year, good luck losers.
Same!
Is it ok if I slander or allege wrongdoing by politicians and then loot or riot if my imaginary wrongs are not addressed? Is anyone sober in politics anymore or is it all like Hollywood on Friday night now?
Why deface public buses with this Marxist nonsense?
How much did this cost the tax payers of King County?
King County Metro is honored to amplify voices that are integral to our agency and our region.
The powerful artwork displayed on our coaches was created by Metro’s employees and was selected by a panel that encompasses the diversity of our workforce.
The deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and many others in both our African American and BIPOC communities, were national tragedies and the events and the response—both locally and nationally—show we have much work to do in reaching Dr. King’s “Beloved Community.”
We’re incredibly proud to participate in and elevate this necessary and long overdue conversation. Together the two bus wraps totaled $17,035.
I love that you quoted MLK. My favorite quote is (paraphrased): “I look forward to the time when people are judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin.”
Please tell me if you consider whether the current “environment” is following or adhering to MLK’s dream.