George Floyd: Memorial in Manchester daubed in ‘utterly sickening’ racist graffiti
Written by News on 22/07/2020
A mural of George Floyd in Manchester has been defaced with racist graffiti.
Council bosses have branded the vandalism “utterly sickening” and are examining CCTV footage in an effort to single-out who daubed the mural in Manchester‘s Northern Quarter sometime between Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning.
The tribute to George Floyd, who was killed when a police officer knelt on his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds in Minneapolis, was painted by local artist Akse.
It has since been boarded up so it can be repaired and a hand-drawn sign appeared underneath the graffiti, saying: “Black Lives Matter!
“The UK is not innocent!”
Nigel Murphy, deputy leader of Manchester City Council, said: “It is utterly sickening that this type of behaviour exists in our society.
“We are currently reviewing CCTV footage in the area and we will do everything we can to find out who committed this abhorrent crime.
“Manchester is a place that celebrates our diversity and we will not tolerate hate in our city.
“In the short term we have chosen to cover the mural because it’s intolerable to see such language on our streets.
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“It is possible to clean the graffiti from the wall, but this will most likely also remove part of the mural. Our preference is to work with the artist to paint over the offending graffiti and restore the mural of George Floyd as soon as possible.”
Greater Manchester Police said: “At around 8.20am on Wednesday, officers were on a routine patrol in the Northern Quarter area of Manchester city centre when they found racially aggravated criminal damage in Stevenson Square.
“An investigation is under way. No arrests have been made.”
Anyone with information should contact police on 101 quoting 610 of 22/07/20 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.
(c) Sky News 2020: George Floyd: Memorial in Manchester daubed in ‘utterly sickening’ racist graffiti
