BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) - A mural in downtown Burlington, Vermont, that critics say doesn’t properly represent the city’s diversity has been vandalized.
Mayor Miro Weinberger said Friday the city discovered that vandals had removed some of the figures’ faces, causing serious damage to the piece entitled “Everyone Loves a Parade.”
The colorful mural by Quebec artist Pierre Hard is described as celebrating 400 years of Burlington and Vermont history by showing builders and leaders that contributed to the city and state. Installed in 2012 it shows historic and contemporary figures including Samuel de Champlain, Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders and one unidentified Native American. Nearly all of the characters are white.
An activist wrote in an opinion piece last year that it “has imposed white supremacist and fake history paint on the town square,” by failing to adequately represent Native Americans. He turned himself into police after spray painting on the mural’s plaque in October of 2017.
A task force was created to find a solution.
Last month the City Council approved a resolution requesting the city’s arts committee consider moving the mural by 2022. Officials would require a sign explaining figures represented in the piece.
On Friday, Weinberger condemned the vandalism and said police would investigate.
“We have just completed a six month public process led by a volunteer task force, and supported by City staff and the Burlington City Council, that secured a broad consensus on a path forward to resolve the polarizing controversy surrounding the mural,” he said in a written statement. “By acting unilaterally and in contradiction of the recent Council decision, the vandal(s) has disrespected those engaged community members and the democratic rule of law.”
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