Miami Mural Celebrating Black Icons Defiled with Racist and Antisemitic Vandalism, Hate Crime Probe Launched

A mural at Miami's Dorsey Park, created to honor the legacy of African-American history, has been defaced with racist and antisemitic graffiti. According to a report by NBC Miami, the vandalism included a Nazi swastika and the N-word painted over the images of notable Black figures, such as baseball legend Jackie Robinson. Miami Police are looking into the incident and have categorized it as a hate crime.

The mural, unveiled in 2012 and a product of collaboration between Moving the Lives of Kids Community Mural Project, Urgent Inc., and Touching Miami with Love, has become a visual testament to the contributions of the African-American community to Miami’s rich tapestry. In a shocked state, Kyle Holbrook, the artist and community leader who spearheaded the mural project, shared with WSVN the significance of the defaced Dorsey Park site, where the Negro Leagues’ Ethiopian Clowns once brought life to the game of baseball. "The mural was supposed to be, it’s a sense of pride," Holbrook told WSVN.

Last Sunday night or yesterday morning is when the hate-driven defacement is suspected to have appeared, as described by NBC Miami. The Miami Police Department was alerted to the vandalism at approximately 4:38 p.m. yesterday. Crews acted quickly to shield the offensive graffiti from public view with tarps until better weather permits a proper restoration.

Committed to not letting this act of hate win, Holbrook is already envisioning how the mural could be reborn into something more significant. By getting more kids involved in the process, Holbrook aspires to transform the painful act into a catalyst for greater unity and artistic expression. “I wanna get back immediately back home so I can make it better. So we can not have this hate sitting there so people can see it. And don’t let the hate win,” he told WSVN. 

Anyone with information about the crime is encouraged to contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Those providing tips can remain anonymous and may even be eligible for a reward.