Black Lives Matter Mural Vandalized in Kansas City

The powerful message of unity painted by dozens of volunteers in Kansas City is marred with black tire marks, eliciting dismay from the artist who designed the mural and many others.

On his Facebook page, artist Harold Smith wrote, “So, I found out the mural I designed at Briarcliff and Mulberry got vandalized.” 

Smith’s post was shared and word spread quickly.

Jill Mesmer responded, “Yes! I also think the street needs to be blocked off to be able to fix it each and every time a racist strikes. Maybe the surrounding “good neighbors” will start calling out their racist neighbors. that’s what it’s going to take.”

Over the Labor Day weekend, artists and architects in Kansas City were joined by hundreds of volunteers to proclaim the value of Black Lives by painting a series of six murals around the metropolitan area. 

When word that one had been vandalized, Smith’s response added a new twist to words former First Lady Michelle Obama spoke in 2016. 

“When they go low, don’t just go high! Go so high they run out of air trying to keep up with you!” he urged.

He also suggested a peaceful response and proposed holding a Black Lives Matter event at the site of the mural on Saturday. Within hours, the post had been shared more than 500 times.