Floyd Statue In Newark Vandalized With White Supremacist Graffiti

NEWARK, NJ — A bronze statue of George Floyd in Newark was vandalized with blackface just over a week after being erected outside City Hall, police say.

On Wednesday night, the 700-pound tribute to Floyd – which was gifted to the city last week – was defaced with graffiti. The damage was discovered early Thursday morning by a Newark police sergeant, authorities said.

In addition to the paint on the statue’s face, the vandals also scrawled a slogan in white paint on its torso reading: “LIFE…LIBERTY VICTORY PATRIOTFRONT.US.”

The artwork honors the life of Floyd, an African American man who was murdered by a white Minneapolis police officer. It has since been cleaned by the city's public works department.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and Public Safety Director Brian O’Hara decried the vandalism on Thursday.

"The defacing of the statue of George Floyd has been a trend around the country," Baraka said. "This horrible act is the very reason that this statue needs to remain and be upheld."

"As this is not just about George Floyd, it's a deliberate effort to push back against and ultimately dismantle systems of hatred, racism, and white supremacy," Baraka said. "We celebrate those efforts in Newark, and will continue to do so, despite the ignorance that has reared its ugly head."

"The Newark Police Division will not tolerate any bias or hate crime, let alone one perpetrated by a white nationalist group that espouses the overthrow of the constitution and government of the United States," O’Hara said, adding that police are vigorously investigating the vandalism to "identify those responsible for this despicable act."

O’Hara said that Newark police are aware of a similar incident that recently took place in Brooklyn, and are in communication with federal, state and county law enforcement partners, as well as the New York City Police Department.

Anyone with information can call the department's 24-hour Crime Stopper tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477). Anonymous tips can also be made using the Police Division’s website at www.newarkpd.org or through its smartphone app.

The statue of Floyd was unveiled on June 16, three days before the Juneteenth holiday. It was commissioned by actor and filmmaker Leon Pickney, sculpted by artist Stanley Watts, and presented as a gift to the city.

Officials said the statue will remain outside City Hall for at least a year.

Floyd's murder inspired a massive rally in Newark last year, which saw upwards of 12,000 people gather to protest against police brutality. Read More: 5 Inspiring Glimpses Into Newark's Peaceful George Floyd Protest

The installation of the tribute to Floyd is the latest example of an ongoing shift in public opinion when it comes to art in Newark.

Last year, municipal workers removed a well-known statue of Christopher Columbus from Washington Park that was donated to the city as a gift from the Italian American community in 1927.

In October 2020, the City of Newark announced that the Columbus statue will be replaced with a new monument honoring Harriet Tubman, the iconic abolitionist who led dozens of enslaved people to freedom via the Underground Railroad.

The city will also rename Washington Park to "Tubman Square" in 2022, when the new monument is expected to be installed. Read More: Monuments To Floyd, Tubman Replace Columbus In Newark

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