More West Seattle Junction public art defaced by racist vandalism

(WSB photo, June 2020)

That’s our photo from June 6, 2020, when artist Desmond Hansen painted a Black Lives Matter mural on the signal box at 42nd/Alaska, same day that thousands gathered in the heart of The Junction to call for racial justice. A reader tip called our attention to recent vandalism defacing the mural – a vandal has painted out the fist and the words. The original mural was commissioned by the West Seattle Junction Association, whose executive director Lora Radford tells WSB this box has been vandalized, and repaired, before. Fixing it again will cost at least $250, and WSJA, a nonprofit, welcomes donations, either here, or via Venmo to @westseattlejunction. This follows a vandal targeting depictions of a family of color in the mural on the Junction post office; that’s undergone recent repairs as part of planned restoration work.

ally cat April 26, 2021 (4:00 pm)

Every time this message is vandalized, questioned, rejected, criticized, etc, it just proves the point and need for the message.

Sasquatch April 26, 2021 (4:47 pm)

Horrible that somebody felt the need to do that. Moreover, to take the time to paint over the words and fist. There are some angry, racist people in West Seattle. Last Spring some racist older gentleman yelled profanity at my house in Admiral with the windows open and the children home because of a BLM sign in our yard. When confronted, he kept swearing and insulting.

flimflam April 26, 2021 (5:07 pm)

Actions of a petty, cowardly person. Ally-cat said it well.

Smittytheclown April 26, 2021 (5:25 pm)

I wonder if these are the same idiots painting “sirender” (yes, spelled like that) all over public property like water towers and sidewalks. Too much time on their hands and too much hate in their hearts.

Matt P April 26, 2021 (9:26 pm)

That’s a tagger. They just want attention. Don’t write out what they put anywhere and they won’t get the attention they want. Use the find it fix it app to report it. If it’s public property, they will come clean it up. If it’s private property, they will send a notice to the property owner who has a certain number of days to fix it.
JohnW April 27, 2021 (7:58 am)

“Sirender” seems to be a Power Rangers reference, but context is all in the eyes of the beholder.