NEW YORK — The Black Lives Matter street art that was painted in front of Trump Tower was found vandalized Monday afternoon.
The New York Police Department closed off the section of the street containing the mural as city crews were seen painting over the red paint and restoring the display.
Authorities are searching for a suspect who threw red paint across the mural and was seen fleeing west on 56th Street, police say. Police are investigating the incident as criminal mischief.
The mural, painted last Thursday for several hours by BLM activists as well as Mayor Bill de Blasio, first lady Chirlane McCray, and the Rev. Al Sharpton, angered President Trump who tweeted of the mural:
“NYC is cutting Police $’s by ONE BILLION DOLLARS, and yet the @NYCMayor is going to paint a big, expensive, yellow Black Lives Matter sign on Fifth Avenue, denigrating this luxury Avenue.”
He added, “This will further antagonize New York’s Finest, who LOVE New York & vividly remember the horrible BLM chant, “Pigs In A Blanket, Fry ‘Em Like Bacon”. Maybe our GREAT Police, who have been neutralized and scorned by a mayor who hates & disrespects them, won’t let this symbol of hate be affixed to New York’s greatest street. Spend this money fighting crime instead!”
