SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) — A Black Lives Matter street mural in Springfield has been defaced the day after it was completed.
According to the office of Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, the vandalism appears to be from the burnout of a car and was found early Tuesday morning.
Citing “zero tolerance” for such vandalism, Sarno said the police will review the video footage from surveillance cameras and will find out who is responsible. He released the following statement:
“Upon hearing about the vandalism on the Black Lives Matter mural this morning, I immediately instructed Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood and our city team to review the video footage from our surveillance cameras on Court Street to investigate this act of intolerance. We will find out who did this and the individual(s) will be held responsible. In addition, I have instructed our dedicated city crews to repair the vandalism on the mural and our city street.”
Our community came together peacefully over the weekend in a show of unity, mutual respect, and understanding. Unfortunately, there are still some in our community that looks to divide us – my goal will always be to unite us. There will be zero tolerance with regards to the desecration of any monument in our city.”
The city finished painting the mural Monday morning. It covers both lanes of a street near City Hall. It was a multi-day project that was organized by City Councilor Tracye Whitfield.
“It was meant to raise awareness that the Black Lives Matter fight is very significant,” She said. “It symbolically stands up to the powers that be that deny black people their humanity.”
