A Black Lives Matter mural in Hartford that is being repainted by local artists was defaced on Saturday night, according to Mayor Luke Bronin.
The mayor calls it a vile act and promises police are working to find whoever is responsible.
The mural on Trinity Street, which was originally painted in the summer of 2020, is being repainted by artists from around the Hartford community.
It was defaced with a swastika and what was described as a coded message of white supremacy.
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The swastika and message of white supremacy have since been covered up on the mural.
Among the artists painting a new Black Lives Matter mural in Hartford, Latoya Delaire quickly went to work to cover hateful imagery with a heart.
“I was devastated because it was only on my letter," Delaire tells us.
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“It might just be this small symbol on this one letter on this whole mural, but it’s an entire community that is impacted," Yoyo Collado of Waterbury said.
People have working hard to repaint and reimagine the mural which first debuted in the summer of 2020.
“The problems have not been solved, but we do need to stay focused on combatting it," Sacha Kelly of Hartford noted.
The mural is coming to life on Trinity Street in Bushnell Park, just steps from the state capitol.
“The middle will be enlightenment, just like spirituality, peace," says Kelly.
Gov. Ned Lamont released a statement about the graffiti saying, "I am beyond disgusted to learn about the graffiti that was left overnight on Trinity Street. These do not represent Connecticut values, and all of us as a community need to take a strong stance to denounce any messages advocating hate and white supremacy. We will not be threatened by the messages of anonymous people who attempt to divide us and instill fear."
"It's mind boggling that in the week when we commemorate the sacrifices of thousands of people who died on the beaches of Normandy to defeat Nazis and Nazism, you have people scrawling Nazi symbols and and symbols of white supremacy, but whoever did this wanted our community to feel divided or to feel afraid, but all that person did is show themselves to be weak and afraid. And all they did is make us as a community stronger," Bronin stated.
The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford, the Hispanic Federation, The Prosperity Foundation, Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford, and the Mandell Jewish Community Center released a joint statement.
“We stand shoulder to shoulder to condemn the hateful vandalism that occurred at Hartford’s Black Lives Matter mural this weekend. The communal work of art represents the power of love, tolerance, and strength in the face of adversity. This cowardly act of White Supremacy and hate under the cover of darkness, is an affront to all people who value democracy, inclusion, and social justice. We are united in our commitment to ensure that diverse voices are heard and valued in Hartford and throughout the Greater Hartford region,” the statement says.
While police search for whoever was responsible, the artists are scrambling to finish in time for the city’s Juneteenth celebration.
For the “E” in Lives that was defaced, the painting is about together we rise. Sixteen letters, each with different designs.
“The larger message is peace, hope, love and if we stand together in solidarity against the hate that is in the world, that we come out victorious at the end," Kelly added.
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