We, Team Sombra y Sol, the students and community members of City College of San Francisco, respectfully urge the CCSF Administration to protect and preserve the new mural created by local artists George Crampton Glassanos and José Mejia at the Mission Center, 3rd Floor Balcony, Transitional Studies Department. This mural, featuring a classic lowrider, vibrant geometric patterns rooted in Indigenous design, and the historic Huelga Bird, a symbol of cultural resilience and labor rights, was recently flagged by administrators as “too political” and “gang-related.” We believe this assessment is not only inaccurate but also dismissive of the rich cultural heritage that this artwork represents.

The Mission District holds deep historical connections to Latinx, Chicanx, Indigenous, and working-class communities. The imagery depicted in this mural reflects that legacy with pride, honoring decades of activism, artistry, and community identity. The Huelga Bird is an internationally recognized emblem of the United Farm Workers movement, a symbol of dignity, civil rights, and collective empowerment. The lowrider, too, is a celebrated cultural icon, representing creativity, craftsmanship, and generations of Chicanx and Latinx cultural expression. These symbols are not gang-related. They are historically, artistically, and culturally significant.

As part of Team Sombra y Sol in the CCSF 3rd Academic Contest: Mission Center Space Transformation, we believe that public art should uplift the histories and identities of the communities that CCSF serves. Removing or censoring this mural would send a harmful message that our students' lived experiences and cultural narratives are unwelcome or invalid. At a campus located in the heart of the Mission District, one of the most culturally vibrant neighborhoods in the nation, such erasure contradicts CCSF’s mission of inclusivity, diversity, and community empowerment.

We call on CCSF leadership to:

1. Allow the mural to remain in place without alteration.
2. Recognize the cultural and historical significance of the imagery depicted.
3. Affirm CCSF’s commitment to supporting public art that reflects the identities of its students and surrounding communities.
4. Engage in dialogue with the artists, students, and faculty rather than making decisions based on assumptions or mischaracterizations.

By signing this petition, we affirm that the mural by George Crampton Glassanos and José Mejia is an important contribution to the Mission Center’s cultural landscape and deserves protection. Preserving this artwork honors the Mission's history, celebrates student-led initiatives, and ensures that CCSF remains a place where art, culture, and community can thrive.

Sí Se Puede. Together, we protect our stories.