George Floyd statues vandalized in Brooklyn, Newark

Eyewitness News ABC7NY

24 Jun 202103:05

Summary

TLDRA George Floyd statue in Brooklyn was vandalized with black paint just eight days after its unveiling. The NYPD Hate Crimes Unit is investigating the incident, which occurred in the middle of the night and involved the statue's base being tagged with a website linked to a self-proclaimed neofascist organization. The statue, made of 200 individual sheets of plywood, was unveiled on Juneteenth and was defaced on the eve of the sentencing of George Floyd's convicted killer, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. The statue's producer expressed devastation, while a family spokesperson emphasized that defacing a statue cannot stop the movement for change.

Takeaways

🎨 A George Floyd statue in Brooklyn was vandalized just eight days after its unveiling, with its face spray-painted.
👮 The NYPD's Hate Crimes Unit is actively investigating the incident, showing their commitment to addressing hate-motivated crimes.
🕵️‍♂️ The NYPD Chief of Department, Rodney Harrison, expressed confidence in finding the perpetrators, highlighting the department's determination.
🌃 The vandalism occurred in the middle of the night, suggesting a covert and intentional act of destruction.
🏛️ The statue's base was tagged with a website link to a self-proclaimed neofascist organization, indicating a possible affiliation of the vandals.
📅 The incident took place on the eve of the sentencing of George Floyd's convicted killer, Derek Chauvin, adding a layer of significance to the timing.
😢 The statue's producer, Lindsay Sl, described the act as 'devastating,' reflecting the emotional impact on those involved in the monument's creation.
🗣️ A family spokesperson, Courtney Nelson, emphasized that while a statue can be defaced, the movement for change cannot be stopped.
🔗 An unrelated George Floyd statue in Newark, New Jersey, was also defaced in a similar manner, suggesting a coordinated effort by the same group.
🧹 Cleanup crews are working to restore the monument, showing a community's response to counteract the act of vandalism.

Q & A

What incident occurred at the George Floyd statue in Brooklyn?
-The George Floyd statue in Brooklyn was vandalized with its face spray-painted, just eight days after it was unveiled.
Which law enforcement unit is investigating the vandalism?
-The NYPD's Hate Crimes Unit is investigating the incident.
What was the statue's material and how was it constructed?
-The statue is made of wood, specifically 200 individual sheets of plywood, perfectly cut and bound together.
When was the statue unveiled and when was it defaced?
-The statue was unveiled on Juneteenth and was defaced five days later.
What was the NYPD Chief of Department Rodney Harrison's statement regarding the investigation?
-NYPD Chief of Department Rodney Harrison expressed confidence that the Hate Crimes Task Force will find the individuals responsible for the vandalism.
What was the reaction of the statue's producer, Lindsay SL, to the defacement?
-Lindsay SL found the defacement devastating and expressed sadness that someone came in the name of hate to deface the statue.
How was the statue defaced and what was the significance of the timing?
-The statue was defaced with black paint and the base was tagged with a website of a self-proclaimed neofascist organization. The defacement occurred on the eve of the sentencing of George Floyd's convicted killer, Derek Chauvin.
What was the reaction of the family spokesperson, Courtney Nelson, to the vandalism?
-Courtney Nelson stated that while a statue can be defaced, the movement cannot be stopped, and change is inevitable.
Was there a similar incident in another city?
-Yes, an unrelated George Floyd statue in Newark, New Jersey, was also defaced in a similar way and tagged by the same group, suggesting a coordinated effort.
What measures are being taken to restore the monument?
-Clean-up crews are working to restore the monument, with some members using their bare hands and at times using toothbrushes to clean the statue.
What was the community's response to the vandalism?
-The community expressed feelings of heartbreak, disgust, and sadness over the defacement of the statue.

Outlines

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🖌️ Vandalism of George Floyd Statue in Brooklyn

A statue of George Floyd in Brooklyn was vandalized just eight days after its unveiling, with its face spray-painted. The NYPD's Hate Crimes Unit is investigating the incident. The statue, an 11-foot tall bust made of 200 individual sheets of plywood, was defaced in the middle of the night with black paint. The statue's base was also tagged with the website of a self-proclaimed neofascist organization. The NYPD Chief of Department, Rodney Harrison, expressed confidence that the perpetrators would be found. The statue's producer, Lindsay SL, lamented the act of vandalism, which occurred on the eve of the sentencing of George Floyd's convicted killer, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. A family spokesperson emphasized that while a statue can be defaced, the movement for change cannot be stopped. In an unrelated incident, a George Floyd statue in Newark, New Jersey, was also defaced in a similar manner, suggesting a coordinated effort by the same group.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Vandalism

Vandalism refers to the act of deliberately destroying or defacing property, typically as an act of protest or mischief. In the context of the video, the term is used to describe the act of spray-painting a statue of George Floyd, which is a clear violation and an attempt to desecrate a symbol of the movement against racial injustice. The script mentions that the statue was defaced with black paint and had the website of a self-proclaimed neofascist organization tagged on its base.

💡George Floyd

George Floyd was an African American man whose death while in police custody in May 2020 sparked international protests against police brutality and racial injustice. The video script discusses a statue erected in his honor, which was vandalized, highlighting the ongoing tensions and the significance of Floyd's legacy as a symbol in the fight for racial equality.

💡Hate Crime

A hate crime is a criminal act motivated by prejudice or bias against a particular group, often involving violence or the threat of violence. The NYPD's Hate Crimes Unit is mentioned in the script as investigating the vandalism of the George Floyd statue, indicating that the act is considered a criminal offense motivated by racial or ideological animosity.

💡NYPD

NYPD stands for the New York Police Department, which is the primary law enforcement agency for the city of New York. The script references the NYPD's Hate Crimes Task Force, which is responsible for investigating incidents like the vandalism of the George Floyd statue, showcasing the department's role in addressing and responding to hate-motivated crimes.

💡Defacement

Defacement is the act of disfiguring or damaging the appearance of something, often in a disrespectful or malicious manner. In the video's narrative, the defacement of the George Floyd statue is a central event, symbolizing an attack on the values and message the statue represents.

💡Juneteenth

Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19th, commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. The script mentions that the George Floyd statue was unveiled on Juneteenth, emphasizing the historical significance of the date and the statue's role as a monument to the ongoing struggle for racial justice.

💡Derek Chauvin

Derek Chauvin is the former Minneapolis police officer convicted for the murder of George Floyd. The script notes that the statue was defaced on the eve of Chauvin's sentencing, drawing a connection between the legal proceedings against Chauvin and the broader movement against police brutality.

💡Neofascist

Neofascism refers to far-right ideologies that emulate or are inspired by Italian Fascism, often characterized by authoritarianism and a strong nationalism. The script mentions a self-proclaimed neofascist organization, suggesting that the group's ideology may have motivated the act of vandalism against the George Floyd statue.

💡Restoration

Restoration in this context refers to the process of repairing or cleaning something that has been damaged or defaced. The script describes cleanup crews working to restore the George Floyd statue, highlighting the community's efforts to preserve the monument's integrity and the message it conveys.

💡Movement

In the script, 'movement' refers to the broader social and political movement against racial injustice and police brutality, which was sparked by George Floyd's death. The term is used by a family spokesperson to emphasize that despite the vandalism, the momentum for change and justice cannot be stopped.

💡Coordination

Coordination in this context implies a planned and organized effort. The script mentions that a similar incident of vandalism occurred in Newark, suggesting a coordinated effort by the same group, indicating that the act was not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of behavior.

Highlights

A George Floyd statue in Brooklyn was vandalized just eight days after its unveiling.

The NYPD's Hate Crimes Unit is investigating the incident.

The statue's face was spray-painted, and its base was tagged with a website of a self-proclaimed neofascist organization.

NYPD Chief of Department Rodney Harrison expressed confidence that the perpetrators will be found.

Cleanup crews are working to restore the monument.

The 11-foot tall bust of George Floyd was defaced on the eve of the sentencing of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted in Floyd's death.

The statue was unveiled on Juneteenth and is made of 200 individual sheets of plywood.

The monument producer, Lindsay SL, expressed devastation over the vandalism.

A family spokesperson emphasized that defacing a statue cannot stop the movement for change.

The Newark, New Jersey Police Department reported a similar defacement of a George Floyd statue in their city.

The vandalism in Newark was also attributed to the same group, suggesting a coordinated effort.

The statue in Newark has since been cleaned up, as seen in pictures from a helicopter.

The community is calling for an end to such acts of vandalism.

The incident has sparked discussions on the importance of monuments and their role in representing social movements.

The statue's defacement has been met with a mix of sadness, anger, and determination to continue the fight for justice.

The NYPD is increasing efforts to find those responsible for the hate crime.