Activists are claiming that tire tracks across Nashville’s newest “Black Lives Matter” mural are signs of intentional vandalism. One set of tires left burnout marks across the bottom half of the letters.
According to reports, the organizers for painting the mural have reached out to Mayor John Cooper about the incident. The mayor’s office hasn’t issued any statements on the matter. None of the activists reported going to the police.
Organizers included Nashville Black Lives Matter member Grayce Gadson, local businessman John Smith, and local activist Brenda Ross. The mural was completed Saturday, at a reported cost of $20,000.
Some citizens agree with the organizers that the damage was intentional. They say it’s a clear act of racism.
“I think it’s sad that less than 24 hours could go by before racism showed its ugly face,” stated a passerby.
Many disagreed, saying it was likely just a driver being reckless or losing control on the rainy streets.
“Not defacing anything. Almost every street in Nashville has burnouts,” wrote one Facebook user. “Welcome to Tennessee. This isn’t news.”
A few individuals questioned the decision to paint a mural rather than investing money into Black-owned businesses or historically black higher education.
The Metro Arts Board of Commissioners approved the mural. The painting spans 350 feet along Woodland Avenue next to the Nissan Stadium. In a press conference, the organizers expressly linked the mural to the controversial organization, Black Lives Matter (BLM).
“Of course the letters will also carry the monochrome color of yellow as generally symbolic of the logo of Black Lives Matter over these past five years,” stated Gadson.
In an interview after completion of the mural, Gadson stated that it exemplifies the absence of Black individuals in downtown Nashville. She also stated that none of the buildings downtown are black-owned.
The permit for the mural expires in January, at which point the organizers must remove or reapply it.
On Monday, several groups informally announced their intentions to request “Make America Great Again” and “Blue Lives Matter” murals in Nashville.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and the Star News Network. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Nashville BLM Mural” by Ray di Pietro Twitter.
They painted a mural on a roadway frequently traveled by drunks leaving the downtown area. What could go wrong?
Tire marks on less than day old paint applied to a city street?
You think?
“(T)he absence of Black individuals in downtown Nashville”?
Really?
People, I work downtown, right next to the Capitol Building. I see tons of folks of color down here at all hours. That seems a bit disproportionate, considering that less than 1/4 of the county’s population is Black. (About 23%, according to the 2010 Census.)
For the record, for every person of color that I see that looks “a bit sus”, I see two that are obviously hard-working professionals, family people. The latter is not the people that I see running around with their fist upraised and making a fuss. They’re too busy chasing the American Dream.
For those of you that don’t live in Nashville, that stretch of road is heavily driven on as it’s near one of the bridges to cross the Cumberland River. You paint your slogan on a street with heavy traffic, and you’re mad because people drove on it?
A true artist doesn’t need painter’s tape and a roller….lol.
Cooper is probably going to assemble a task force to hunt down the person(s) and charge them with a hate crime.
It’d be nice if the next mayor sent BLM a bill for the cleanup and ban these communists from the city.
‘On Monday, several groups informally announced their intentions to request “Make America Great Again” and “Blue Lives Matter” murals in Nashville.’
If permits for other murals are withheld, Metro should be sued for violating “the equal protection of the laws” (14th Amendment), ironically, one of the two which overturned the 1857 SCOTUS Dred Scott ruling to end slavery and make black people equal citizens.