“Hate crime”: Brooklyn’s George Floyd statue was vandalized less than a week after it was unveiled.
- The statue of George Floyd in Brooklyn was vandalized just days after it was unveiled.
- Four men are suspected to have taken part in painting the website and logo of a white supremacist group on the statue.
- NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force and Racial and Ethnically Motivated Extremism units are now investigating the incident.
The statue of George Floyd installed in Brooklyn and unveiled on Saturday in honor of Juneteenth was spotted defaced on Thursday morning.
According to police reports, the vandals dishonored the statue by coating it with the website and logo of Patriot Front – a white supremacist group, Daily Mail reveals.
Security camera footage shows several unidentified individuals approaching the statue around 3:40 am on Thursday and walking away shortly after. Following the incident, four men are suspected to have taken part in the demolition.
The police are now treating the incident as a possible hate crime.
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Currently, the vandalism is being investigated by both the NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force and the department’s Racial and Ethnically Motivated Extremism unit. City Council Member Farah Louis took the issue to social media, tweeting:
“Today my office learned that the George Floyd sculpture at Flatbush Junction has been vandalized. This is a hate crime and totally unacceptable to the memory of Mr. Floyd and to the Black community as well as our efforts to achieve racial justice and equality in America.”
2: I ask anyone with information to please come forward and contact the @NYPD who is investigating. Additionally, my office is working with artist @chriscarnabuci, ConfrontART and the We Are Floyd Foundation to repair the damage to this beautiful and important work of public art.
— Council Member Farah N. Louis (@CMFarahLouis) June 24, 2021
Furthermore, Gov. Andrew Cuomo posted:
“I am directing the New York State Police Hate Crimes Task Force to assist in the investigation of the defacing of the George Floyd monument in Brooklyn. To the group of neo-Nazis who did this, I want to be absolutely clear: get the hell out of our state.”
I am directing the @nyspolice Hate Crimes Task Force to assist in the investigation of the defacing of the George Floyd monument in Brooklyn.
To the group of neo-Nazis who did this, I want to be absolutely clear: get the hell out of our state. pic.twitter.com/Mjkpn4lVLZ
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) June 25, 2021
Artist Chris Canrabuci said he is “saddened” but “not completely shocked” by the incident.
Speaking to the New York Times, the sculptor said:
“I’m saddened by it. I’m not completely shocked. It was so quickly afterward that it happened. Maybe that was a surprise.”
My CNC model for a new sculpture. #JusticeforGeorgeFloyd pic.twitter.com/Qu8MGp6Tq7
— Chris (@chriscarnabuci) June 14, 2020
At the unveiling of the statue, George Floyd’s brother, Terrence Floyd, urged the crowd to never forget what had happened.
Meanwhile, rapper Papoose was welcomed to write an emotional message on the side of the statue’s base.
“George Floyd was hunted, knees were used to prey… In life we should only use knees to pray.”
Terrence also wrote a few powerful words:
“Pay attention and continue to keep my big brother’s name ringing in the ears of everyone.”
