“Immigration is Beautiful” Mural in Wichita Defaced With “KKK Is Beautiful, Wetback” Graffiti
Armando Minjarez is an immigrant activist and artist from Wichita, Kansas. Earlier this morning, he tweeted out the following:
this happen last night #racist @marooncacoon @Scooby_Doo_98 @Hugogami @EmiraPalacios @LatinoLeadersKS @latinorebels pic.twitter.com/g3D70JkzYz
— Armando Minjarez (@aminjarez) February 13, 2014
The tweet included this image:
Via @aminjarez
The graffiti sprayed on the mural changed the mural’s text to read, “KKK is beautiful, wetback.” When we tweeted Armando for more details, he tweeted the following:
@latinorebels as we get ready to meet with artists tonight to plan more public art for justice…we find this this morning. #nomames
— Armando Minjarez (@aminjarez) February 13, 2014
@latinorebels This is in Wichita KS, this was the first of several community engaged public artworks we are planning with the #ARMYofArtists
— Armando Minjarez (@aminjarez) February 13, 2014
@latinorebels A group of 12 high school Latino students painted it @LatinoLeadersKS we are currently figuring out next steps,
— Armando Minjarez (@aminjarez) February 13, 2014
Armando also shared a larger image of the mural. The word “welfare” also appears.
Via @aminjarez
The original mural can be seen on the Twitter page of @LatinoLeadersKS:
This is a developing story. Buzzfeed just published additional details. Here is what was reported:
Minjarez says he and the students had spoken about how there could be pushback to this public display of their realities and he said the students are not discouraged.
“They’re not discouraged but they’re certainly pissed off,” he said. Minjarez said the timing of the defacement of the mural coincides with the first meeting of Army of Artists, the complete group of artists who will decide and commit to the next pieces of public artwork. He said his internal goal is at least 8 more projects. “Whatever public art they want to create; a concert, a rap battle, an installation.”
He said this ugly episode will only invigorate the artists.
“We’re bringing to light the reality we live with everyday, we can choose to act like racism isn’t out there but it is.”
This article was originally published in Latino Rebels.
[Photos courtesy Armando Minjares]