California authorities are looking for a couple to disfigure a Black Lives Matter street mural on Sunday, just hours after community members finished it.
The Martinez Police Department announced they were searching for an unidentified white man and woman after they ruined a city-sanctioned Black Lives Matter mural with black paint.
The incident began when the couple, who appeared to be wearing Make American Great Again clothing, arrived at the mural in front of the city court in downtown Martinez on July 4.
The images show the woman pouring a can of black paint onto part of the mural and using a paint roller to cover the bright yellow letters.
When a witness asks the woman “what’s wrong”, her partner replies “we’re sick of the narrative, that’s what’s wrong.”
“The narrative of police brutality, the narrative of oppression, the narrative of racism, is a lie,” adds the man.
The man, who is recording the incident, points to the Black Lives Matter sign and calls it “racism.”
An argument breaks out between the man and the viewers as the woman continues to damage the harmless mural.
‘There is no oppression. There is no racism, ‘says the man. ‘It’s a leftist lie … from the media.
The Martinez Police Department is looking for an unidentified man and woman (pictured) who tore apart a Black Lives Matter mural on Saturday
The man (in the photo) argued with witnesses that Black Lives Matter is ‘racism’ and ‘nobody’ wants the city in it
The woman is furious with the witnesses and exclaims ‘keep that shit’ in New York! It is not happening in my city!
The woman seemed to be referring to various approved Black Lives Matter murals in all five boroughs of New York City.
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that one would be painted directly in front of the Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue, a move that angered the president, but was delayed last week for unspecified reasons.
Several of these murals have been painted on highways across the country to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement after the death of George Floyd and other African-Americans at the hands of the police.
The man said the couple messed up the mural because they were “tired of the narrative …” referring to police brutality and racism.
At one point, the woman gets mad and says “hold that shit” in New York! It is not happening in my city!
Authorities said the couple fled the scene before police officers arrived.
At one point, the man repeats that “no one wants Black Lives Matter here” and “all lives matter.”
The Martinez Police Department said it sent the Black Lives Matter mural after people reported the incident, but the couple had already fled the area.
Community members on Sunday returned to the mural and repainted it.
“The community spent a considerable amount of time putting together the mural just to paint it in a hateful and pointless way,” the department said.
‘The City of Martínez values tolerance and the damage to the mural was divisive and hurtful. Help us identify those responsible for this crime, so that they can be responsible for their actions. ‘
Authorities also released a photo of the couple’s alleged vehicle.
“A witness provided a photograph of the suspect’s vehicle, which was described as a Nissan van with the word” NICOLE “on the right side of the tailgate in silver letters,” the press release said.
“The truck has a caravan and the license plate is 52701B1.”
Community members returned to Martinez’s courthouse on Sunday to repair the damaged Black Lives Matter mural.
Authorities released an image of the couple’s suspicious Nissan vehicle in a press release Sunday.
According to KPIX-TV, the City of Martinez approved the Black Lives Matter mural and allowed community members to paint the artwork on July 4.
More than 100 people, all with facial covers and attached to social estrangement, gathered to paint the phrase on Saturday for five hours.
The ‘public art project’ was organized by a local group called Martizians for Black Lives, who obtained permission for the Martinez Recreation Department mural.
Justin Gomez, one of the main organizers of Martizians for Black Lives, said the project was inspired after several anti-Black Lives Matter flyers were discovered in the city.
The flyers reportedly sparked a discussion and reflection throughout the community on how residents should be treated.
‘People have now seen racism in their community; now we have to face it, “said Gómez.
He added that it was not a mistake that the mural was placed in front of the Martínez court.
The legal system ‘gateway to mass incarceration’ which has disproportionately affected African Americans and minorities, as well as perpetuated institutional racism.
Tatiana Ray: “You know, it was a threat to have the concerns of others represented by the city and represented by the community”
‘The “system” is made up of millions of small systems. We have to search locally first, ” Gomez said.
One of the mural artists, Tatiana Ray, told ABC 7 that the couple’s response to the artwork was indicative of the white supremacy that permeated American culture.
“I think this is an indication of how much power white supremacy really has,” he said.
‘The fact that even having something on the street for an hour, they couldn’t even tolerate that. You know, it was a threat to have the concerns of others represented by the city and represented by the community. ‘
National protests against white supremacy, racial injustice, and police brutality have gripped the United States since George Floyd’s death on Memorial Day.
As hundreds of thousands of Americans called for action, President Trump criticized Black Lives Matter and unequivocally sided with the police.
President Trump (pictured) has come under fire for his response to the Black Lives Matter movement in recent weeks after a series of political mistakes.
Photo Shows: An aerial view of the ‘Black Lives Matter’ wall painting seen on Fulton Street in Brooklyn, New York, on June 15
He was condemned for his heavy-handed military response to the often peaceful protests, reportedly inciting further division among civilians using the rhetoric of prejudice and for using the widely contested phrase ‘When looting begins, shooting begins.
His apparent dislike for Black Lives Matter protesters was leaked in his July 4 speech at the White House, where he compared them to the Nazis and terrorists.
“American heroes defeated the Nazis, dethroned the fascists, overthrew the communists, saved American values, defended American principles, and persecuted terrorists to the ends of the earth,” he said.
The Martinez Police Department requested that if any member of the public can identify the man and woman involved in this incident, call our Dispatch Center at 925-372-3440 with the information.
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