Thursday, March 28, 2024

Bastion Square mural vandalized shortly after artists install new message (VIDEO)

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Just two days after a controversial mural in Bastion Square was revised on the instructions of Victoria council, a vandal spray-painted over the newly installed message.

VicPD say the vandalism occurred Saturday morning at approximately 10 a.m. when a man riding a motorcycle rode up to the mural.

He then spray-painted over the newly revised message and left the area. A video provided anonymously to Victoria Buzz allegedly shows the act of vandalism as it happened.

The mural had been revised following an outcry from police and city council over the inclusion of the letters “ACAB” which are widely understood to stand for “All Cops Are Bad/Bastards.”

After council voted to remove the message and to replace it with a newly-approved design from the mural artists, it was revised to read:

“This letter has been censored by the City of Victoria influenced by the Victoria Police Department. In doing so, Victoria is contributing to the silencing of Black and Indigenous voices and experiences across this land.”

Police Chief Del Manak put out a strongly-worded statement on October 30, one day before the vandalism occurred, calling the changes to the mural “offensive.”

“In my opinion, the divisive message contained in this artwork is inaccurate, misinformed, and disrespectful,” Manak stated.

“It is an affront to the women and men of the Victoria Police Department, who serve our communities with integrity, compassion and honour.”

Manak added that while he acknowledges systemic racism across Canada, he believes the mural’s new message is an unhelpful “expression of hate.”

He closed his statement by thanking “the countless number of citizens who have stopped to thank our officers or offer them their words of support and encouragement.”

No one has claimed responsibility for the vandalism, though multiple replies to Manak’s tweet applauded an earlier act of vandalism against the mural.

“I hope they realize the best edit of that mural was when that brave guy ‘defaced’ it,” said one user in reply to Manak.

“It is unbelievable that the @CityOfVictoria allowed this insulating [sic], offensive change,” another user wrote.

“At this point, the only thing left to do is for taxpayers of the city, who ultimately payed [sic] for this so-called “art”, must demand for its complete removal.”

A spokesperson for VicPD told Victoria Buzz that Manak had no further comment on the mural or its defacement on Monday, and stood by his reply from October 30.

The suspect in the vandalism is described as an adult white male, standing approximately 5 feet, 8 inches tall, with a medium build.

He wore a multi-coloured motorcycle helmet, a blue vest overtop of a green sweater, and dark cargo pants. The suspect rode a red and white motorcycle.

Anyone who recognizes the suspect or who has information about the incident is asked to call the VicPD non-emergency line at 250-995-7654, extension 1.

Those who wish to report information anonymously can call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Tim Ford
Tim Ford
Digital staff writer with Victoria Buzz

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