Far left activists in Providence, Rhode Island have pressured the mayor to halt the creation of a mural honoring the memory of Iryna Zarutska, the legal immigrant from Ukraine who was murdered by a repeat offender on a train in North Carolina.
The mural was being painted on a wall next to a gay bar in the city. The owners of the bar had no problem with it until leftists started claiming that the mural would be a ‘far right’ symbol.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley, a Democrat, caved to the activists immediately. This is all so pathetic.
WJAR News in Providence reports:
Providence Mayor Smiley calls for removal of controversial mural honoring slain refugee
What began as a memorial for a slain Ukrainian refugee has transformed into a political lightning rod in the “Creative Capital,” with Mayor Brett Smiley now calling for the artwork’s removal.
The mural, located on the exterior of The Dark Lady, a prominent LGBTQ+ club downtown, remains incomplete as city officials and community members clash over its message and funding.
The Mayor’s Office confirmed Sunday that Smiley wants the mural of Iryna Zarutska taken down.
He later released the following statement: “The murder of the individual depicted in this mural was a devastating tragedy, but the misguided, isolating intent of those funding murals like the one across the county is I continue to encourage our community to support local artists whose work brings us closer together rather than divide us.”…
Artist Ian Gaudreau, who began the work last week, told NBC 10 News on Friday that he never intended for the tribute to be political. Some residents visiting the site over the weekend echoed that sentiment, urging the community to focus on the victim rather than the politics.
Hellbound and Down 