Activists, artists work to restore vandalized George Floyd mural
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An iconic mural of George Floyd was vandalized this week in Minneapolis, according to stewards of his memorial.
Marcia Howard, a teacher and activist, posted a video to social media Friday morning about the vandalism. It showed a tray of cream paint below the mural, with a portrait of George Floyd painted over.
“We have been attempting to keep this place secure and sustainable and sanitary and sacred, so if you wanna help my comrades and us out in that effort… you know the drill,” said Howard, rallying supporters.
The mural adorns the outside of the grocery store renamed Unity Foods, at the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue where Floyd took his last breaths.
Jeanelle Austin, a caretaker of the memorial there and executive director of George Floyd Global Memorial, told MPR News the vandalism might have taken place Tuesday night. Caretakers noticed it on Wednesday morning and immediately got to work on restoring the mural.
Austin said art conservators assessed the damage and started cleaning on Thursday. One of the mural’s artists, Cadex Herrera, will refresh the mural with new paint.
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