Milwaukee mural destroyed amid growing controversy

MILWAUKEE - First vandalized and now destroyed, controversy is bubbling over concerning a mural in Milwaukee aimed at bringing attention to the war in Gaza.

The mural at Locust and Holton for many has been triggering. The design has been generating conversation and conflict, as it depicted a Star of David combined with a swastika.The words "the irony of becoming what you once hated" were on the mural as well.

Previously, it displayed a portrait of Breonna Taylor, a Black woman who was fatally shot by Louisville police in 2020.

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Ihsan Atta owns the building.

"The aim of the mural was to foster awareness of the horrific genocide. Being committed, especially as we are nearing an election," he said. "This wasn’t a pro-Palestinanian mural like a lot of the media is saying. It is a pro-humanity mural."

Similar sentiments were shared by the Milwaukee Jewish Voice for Peace, which said the mural is not antisemitic, but is anti zionist.

"We resoundingly reject this, that the Milwaukee Jewish Federation or the Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle speak for the entire Jewish community when we assure you, they do not," said Rachel Ida Buff with Milwaukee Jewish Voice for Peace. "It is not ours or anyone's place to police Palestinians as they express their pain through creative means."

First, the mural was defaced with black paint. Atta said his surveillance cameras captured someone with an ax tearing it down over the weekend. 

"There was an angry man screaming in my face waving a hammer, saying he was going to hit me with it," said Michael Gauthier, who lives in the area. "Thank God that didn’t happen."

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The unwanted attention is why the owners of Black Dawn Tattoo are ending their lease.

"Rather than bringing the community together it became pretty divisive," shop owner Matt Stolzenburg said. "Every single day when there is perhaps a new thing happening, where something is getting damaged or whatever. The fear is that very soon after, it just might be other storefronts." 

The Milwaukee Common Council did release a statement requesting Atta take down the mural. Milwaukee’s Department of Neighborhood Services has authority over signs and billboards, but murals are excepted, so it doesn't have jurisdiction and doesn't approve them.

He said he already has plans to put another mural in this location soon, but did not reveal the design. He also said there could be a replica of the most recent mural in another medium.

The mural cost almost $15,000.

Black Dawn Tattoo is raising money to help fund its new location.

Official statements

Milwaukee County Supervisor Priscilla Coggs-Jones (Sept. 13):

"I was recently made aware of the new mural at Holton and Locust in my district, which intertwines the Star of David and a swastika. I’ve heard from members of the Jewish community about how deeply offensive and demeaning this image is and was taken aback myself upon seeing it. I stand with them in calling for its immediate removal. Antisemitic symbols and rhetoric like this have no place in our community. Milwaukee County and the City of Milwaukee are actively working to resolve this issue as quickly as possible." 

Milwaukee Common Council Members Milele Coggs, Andrea Pratt, Mark Chambers, Jonathan Brostoff, Robert Bauman, DiAndre Jackson, JoCasta Zamarripa, Larresa Taylor, Sharlen Moore, Peter Burgelis, José Pérez, Scott Spiker, Marina Dimitrijevic and Russell Stamper (Sept. 14):

We have seen a mural that has gone up at Locust and Holton in the 6th District, and we are troubled by the hurtful and divisive messaging it contains.

The same space (on private property) that has displayed a beautiful and inspiring mural of Breonna Taylor, the 26-year-old Black woman murdered by Louisville Metro Police in 2020, is now displaying a mural featuring the Star of David with a swastika placed inside of it.

This same mural was vandalized within the past 36 hours. While calling on all to respect private property and First Amendment rights, it is also important to call out those who import symbols of division, hatred and violence to our community, and then act surprised when they are not welcomed with open arms.

Some people look for any excuse to wave a swastika. It has long been a symbol of intolerance and hatred, designed to psychologically injure and oppress those who are different. To see it displayed on the streets of our city is sad, distressing, and disheartening.

Art has the power to inspire, educate, and heal. However, by displaying the swastika, the mural triggers deep feelings and traumatic associations with atrocities, persecution, and genocide, and it is not welcome in our community.

Good art, in our opinion, can move people to initiate engagement and dialogue that can lead to positive change, or even to some level of mutual understanding.

This mural is not the way to move people in a positive direction, and we are requesting the property owner take it down in a spirit of healing. 

Milwaukee Ald. Lamont Westmoreland (Sept. 14):

Why was I not on the earlier joint statement issued by 14 of my colleagues?

I'll never serve as a rubber-stamp for the words of others. The statement went through multiple revisions by several Council Members, removing things they didn't like, and adding what they thought was missing. My attempt to have input was disregarded.

There were shifting deadlines to sign on - making it difficult for those who are doing things beyond waiting around for the next update and deadline.

If my perspective isn’t asked for or included, count me out. Always.

That said this issue is simple. The mural posted on a building at North Holton and East Locust streets has offended many, opened up mental wounds for some, and created division and hatred within our community. As such, it has no place being displayed as it currently is.

While I don’t believe the intention was to upset or offend, it has done just that. The use of any symbols or signs, such as the swastika the mural portrays, that have deep-rooted association with hatred and violence should be unacceptable and rejected in the strongest possible terms.

I would urge the owner of the building to consider all of the outrage that has been voiced in recent days, and offer a different version of the sign and message that is attempting to be portrayed.