On July 12 Mamaroneck Police arrested a 23-year old Mamaroneck resident for allegedly vandalizing a Black Lives Matter mural painted on the street at Van Ranst Place near Columbus Park and the village train station. The defacing of the mural allegedly took place in the middle of the afternoon and when Village police arrived they found a paint can nearby.
Mamaroneck Mayor Tom Murphy posted the following. “Dear All,It would appear that the BLM memorial was vandalized. The police are investigating if they find conclusively that this was purposefully vandalized (as it would appear but we should let the investigation play out) I would hope this is classified as a hate crime and the full weight of the law is exercised against the culprits. This ignorant and unkind act will definitely not be what defines us as a community. We will repair and repaint the memorial in the same spirit of cooperation and understanding that was evident when we came together as a community to create it. I believe that this happened because we are a community that has worked to begin the process of open dialogue to heal the pain and hurt that racism has caused in our society. This is an act of fear from those who sense that society is changing for the better. That society is becoming more fair and more tolerant despite their efforts to roll back progress. Let us continue to bind up the wounds that hundreds of years of racism, both explicit and implicit, have created. Let’s not leave the task of healing to the next generation. Let us boldly and bravely do the difficult work that has too long been avoided and ignored. I have a marrow deep faith in the goodness and kindness of Mamaroneck’s residents. I have seen it in action too often to ever doubt it. I know that we will do our duty and not leave this legacy to our children and grandchildren. All live won’t matter, until Black Lives Matter!”
The mural was painted in October of 2020, but not before the Village Board voted against its creation before changing its vote to approve it, without taxpayer funds but by private contributions. Mamaroneck resident and mural organizer Jarrett Winchester said that the mural had been vandalized before this recent incident.
The 23 year old man, whose identity has not been released, was charged with Felony 4th degree criminal mischief as a hate crime.
A similar incident of defacing a BLM mural occured in Greenburgh earlier this year, but no arrests have been made in that case.
