Liberals rioted in the streets and erected murals and statues of George Floyd all across the country in 2020. But now that a mural is going up of of White Ukrainian refugee woman who was killed by a Black career criminal, liberals are claiming it’s “divisive” and are demanding it come down.
From NBC10 WJAR: PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) — What began as a memorial for a slain Ukrainian refugee has transformed into a political lightning rod in the “Creative Capital,” with Mayor Brett Smiley now calling for the artwork’s removal.
The mural, located on the exterior of The Dark Lady, a prominent LGBTQ+ club downtown, remains incomplete as city officials and community members clash over its message and funding.
The Mayor’s Office confirmed Sunday that Smiley wants the mural of Iryna Zarutska taken down.
He later released the following statement: “The murder of the individual depicted in this mural was a devastating tragedy, but the misguided, isolating intent of those funding murals like the one across the county is I continue to encourage our community to support local artists whose work brings us closer together rather than divide us.”
Zarutska, 23, a refugee from Ukraine, was horrifically stabbed to death while riding on a train in Charlotte, North Carolina last year, on August 22, 2025.
Her attacker, Decarlos Dejuan Brown, Jr., 34, a career criminal who had previously spent 5 years in prison, had 14 prior arrests and was out on cashless bail awaiting trial when he suddenly stood up on the train and plunged his knife into the young girl’s neck, killing her. He has been charged with her murder.
The case generated outrage nationwide, as another example of a wave of young White girls who have been killed by Black men.
In September, Eoghan McCabe, CEO and founder of Intercom, announced, “I am offering $500k in $10k grants to paint murals of the face of Iryna Zarutska in prominent US city locations.”
Billionaire Elon Musk replied, “I will contribute $1M.”
I will contribute $1M
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 10, 2025
Now, liberals are erupting in fury over the mural of the slain Ukrainian girl, and work on the project has been paused, as the mayor is demanding that it be removed.
Providence mayoral candidate David Morales also objects to the mural, claiming it is part of a “right-wing movement” that is exploiting Iryna Zarutska’s death for the “purposes of trying to spread division.”
WATCH BELOW:
#Update: Mayor Brett Smiley shared the following statement Monday morning, calling the intent behind the mural’s funding “divisive” and “misguided.”
We’re still working to set up an on-camera interview with the mayor to discuss this further. @NBC10 pic.twitter.com/EGcpsWFaaS
— Ryan Medeiros (@RRyanmedeiros) March 30, 2026
Now we have yet another deranged syndrome amongst us @elonmusk. This is a damn shame
— Becky L. Preece (@bpreece59) March 30, 2026
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