The San Francisco school board voted this week to keep but cover up a large and controversial mural depicting the life of the nation’s first president.
The board had voted earlier to paint over the 1936 piece of artwork, which includes images of slaves on George Washington’s plantation and pioneers standing over a dead Native American. The 1,600-square-foot mural is located at George Washington High School.
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But after pushback from the public, the board reversed the decision Tuesday and voted 4-3 to reverse the vote and instead cover the mural up with panels depicting what’s termed “the heroism of people of color in America.”
Those opposed to the mural have deemed it racist and offensive, while supporters worried that painting over or covering it would be akin to artistic and historic revisionism.
