A wave of vandalism hit Black history murals across southeastern San Diego this week, sending local artists and neighbors scrambling to assess the damage and figure out how to fix it. The attacks struck several well-known public works, from artwork along the freeway to storefront panels on Imperial Avenue, and organizers say the pattern appears to be more than random tagging. Restoration crews are already mobilizing to document what was hit and coordinate repair work.
Local artist Kim Phillips told CBS 8 that a mural honoring Breonna Taylor on Imperial Avenue has been defaced multiple times, to the point that some panels have effectively been abandoned after repeated attacks. Phillips, who has helped organize earlier restoration efforts in the neighborhood, said the cycle of damage is wearing on volunteers who have kept the work visible for years. The report first appeared on Sunday on CBS 8.
Phillips and the Southeast Art Team have launched a fundraiser to pay for supplies and new security measures, including solar-powered floodlights and a smart camera, according to the group’s GoFundMe. The page says veteran muralist Mario Torero will work with local artists to restore the long-standing Civil Rights mural and other damaged pieces. Organizers plan to start repairs as soon as materials arrive and volunteer schedules are set.
Murals hit across City Heights and the MLK Freeway
The vandalism spree included a portrait of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the Martin Luther King Jr. Freeway just past the Home Avenue on-ramp, along with murals depicting Barack Obama and Malcolm X in the City Heights area, according to CBS 8. A Civil Rights mural at Imperial Avenue and 32nd Street was also painted over, with the faces of Coretta Scott King and Dr. King reportedly covered in white spray paint. Artists told the station the damage has effectively wiped away generations of neighborhood memory from public walls.
Historic 32nd and Imperial mural targeted again
The long Civil Rights mural at Imperial Avenue and 32nd Street, a landmark that has already been restored by local volunteers in the past, appears to have been hit again, the restoration fundraiser states. The GoFundMe page outlines plans not only to repaint the mural but also to add lighting and surveillance equipment to discourage future vandalism. It calls for donations of supplies and funding for paid artist hours to complete the work. Organizers say they plan to schedule volunteer restoration days so neighbors and local schools can help bring the wall back to life.
How neighbors can report and help
The City of San Diego urges residents to report graffiti through its Graffiti Hotline, the Get It Done portal, or the city’s online reporting form, and city crews typically remove graffiti from city property within a few days, the City of San Diego says. If vandalism is occurring in real time, the city advises calling 9-1-1 rather than confronting suspects. Local groups recommend documenting damage with photos, filing an official report, and then reaching out to restoration teams to coordinate repairs quickly…