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COURIER L 12 IFE, SEPT. 4–10, 2020 M BR B G
The scoundrels used purple spray paint to deface the mural. Brooklyn Arts for Kids
‘They defaced a
message of love’
Vandals destroy W’ Terrace children’s
mural honoring Black Lives Matter
BY BEN VERDE
Vandals used spray-paint to deface
a children’s mural aimed at honoring
the Black Lives Matter movement in
Windsor Terrace — devastating the
young Brooklynites, who were heartbroken
to see their message of unity
destroyed, according to the educator
who helped coordinate the piece.
“They were hurt that somebody
would directly deface their work
knowing it was children,” said Belinda
Blum, a co-director of Brooklyn Arts
for Kids. “Even though they had
talked about that this could happen,
they were hurt that it did happen kind
of soon, and that it wasn’t just scribble
scrabble, they directly defaced a message
of love and unity and diversity.”
The good-for-nothing graffi ti artists
covered the words “Black Lives
Matter” in purple paint, and scribbled
over another section of the mural that
depicts the clasping of two hands —
one black and one white.
The mural, which the group of
children between the ages of 5 and 13
painted below an underpass on Prospect
Avenue, was the product of weeks
of work, according to the educators.
The fi nalized mural spells out the word
“community” with each letter housed
in a miniature painting contributed
by different groups of youngsters.
The 24 young Picassos had complete
creative freedom, and came up
with all the images in the mural themselves,
the educators said.
“It was a beautiful experience to
see these kids take ownership of their
creation and to feel the excitement of
what it means to give to one’s community,”
said Blum.
Windsor Terrace locals often
cheered on the artists while they
worked, and the director of a nearby
community garden even donated fl owers.
“The community, as we were making
it, was so responsive with positivity
for the kids,” said Blum.
The directors of Brooklyn Arts for
Kids say they plan on restoring the
mural in a way that acknowledges the
vandalism, rather than simply covering
it up.
“It was clear that they weren’t just
interested in painting it over like it
didn’t happen. They were interested
in responding in some creative way so
that it was almost like a dialogue,” said
Blum. “One suggestion was to turn the
black paint into a rainbow.”
The vandalism — which the program
directors pointed out occurred
during the Republican National Convention
on Aug. 25 — reminds the
group that, while Windsor Terrace
may be a left-leaning neighborhood on
the surface, not everyone shares the
same liberal beliefs.
“Brooklyn may have a reputation,
but the actuality is that we have
Trump-supporting racists,” said program
co-director Wally Wallach. “We
have work to do.”
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