Tampa’s newest public art project appeared over the weekend outside Tampa Police Department after organizers worked for weeks to get approval from the city to have a “Back the Blue” pro-police mural.
The city didn’t approve it, but organizers armed with paint and orange cones created the mural anyway.
Kristen Krutz, one of the organizers, helped spearhead the project along with others from Back the Blue Florida, an online community with more than 5,000 members. She said the mural is meant to show law enforcement personnel that they have support.
“They’re being defunded and things that they need and require to do their job are not going to be provided anymore,” said Krutz, 36. “Obviously, that would make anybody feel unappreciated, unwanted, and that’s the opposite of what we wanted them to see with the mural on the street.”
At Tampa City Council meetings, people have called on officials to defund the Tampa Police Department, but Mayor Jane Castor has said she’s not on board with the idea.
Krutz and about 40 other people painted the mural Saturday evening in the middle of East Madison Street. The mural spans the block and is painted with the black, white and blue colors of the pro-police “thin blue line” flag.
Without a permit, Krutz said they used orange cones and their personal vehicles to block the road while they worked.
“The reason why we decided to proceed without a permit is because Black Lives Matter has murals all over the city that say Black Lives Matter, and they were not permitted,” Krutz said.
Krutz said she filed a records request with the city for permits issued for Black Lives Matter murals and was told none were issued.
City of Tampa spokesperson Ashley Bauman said the Back the Blue mural was in the process of approval. She said the city would have a statement on the mural later Monday.
The mural has been criticized on social media as ugly and difficult to read. Some posts suggested “accidentally” spilling paint over it. The headline in alternative weekly Creative Loafing: “Everyone’s roasting Tampa’s hilariously bad ‘Bock The Blub’ street mural.”
Krutz’s husband designed the mural and she said she expects it to be defaced even though Black Lives Matter murals have remained untouched. Anyone who would do this shows disdain for First Amendment rights, she said.
“There’s no doubt if they go out there and deface this mural that somebody is going to deface theirs,” Krutz said. “That’s what irritates me. And it’s not going to be me. But it’s going to happen.”
Krutz said she emailed with Castor for several days starting July 16 about getting approval for the Back the Blue mural. Krutz suggested two possible slogans: “Blue Lives Matter,” and, “Back the Blue,” along with two possible locations. Krutz was referred to other city officials and was sent a guide with steps on painting an intersection in Tampa.
A GoFundMe fundraiser had brought in a little more than $1,000 for the mural and Krutz said she sent a petition with more than 1,000 signatures to city officials. Krutz was told the proposal needs to be brought to the City Council for approval.
Jeffrey Stull, an attorney that represents the Tampa Police Benevolent Association, sent a letter Friday to Castor saying the police union supported the project and asking her to direct city personnel to move quickly to grant Krutz permission.
Krutz said she spoke the same day with Marley Wilkes, Tampa’s director of the office of governmental affairs and strategic initiatives, and was told the city would let her know if she was granted permission.
The mural is only of its kind in the U.S. painted on a street, Krutz said. A group in New York City called for a “Blue Lives Matter” mural in July but it hasn’t materialized. In Tulsa, after a pro-police group asked for its own mural, the city decided to remove a Black Lives Matter mural rather than let one with a pro-police message stand.
• • •
Coverage of local and national protests from the Tampa Bay Times
HOW TO SUPPORT: Whether you’re protesting or staying inside, here are ways to educate yourself and support black-owned businesses.
WHAT PROTESTERS WANT: Protesters explain what changes would make them feel like the movement is successful.
WHAT ARE NON-LETHAL AND LESS-LETHAL WEAPONS? A guide to what’s used in local and national protests.
WHAT ARE ARRESTED PROTESTERS CHARGED WITH? About half the charges filed have included unlawful assembly.
CAN YOU BE FIRED FOR PROTESTING? In Florida, you can. Learn more.
HEADING TO A PROTEST? How to protect eyes from teargas, pepper spray and rubber bullets.
"back" - Google News
August 03, 2020 at 08:20AM
https://ift.tt/3gkIWkh
There’s a ‘Back the Blue’ mural at police headquarters, but Tampa didn’t okay it - Tampa Bay Times
"back" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2QNOfxc
Shoes Man Tutorial
Pos News Update
Meme Update
Korean Entertainment News
Japan News Update
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "There’s a ‘Back the Blue’ mural at police headquarters, but Tampa didn’t okay it - Tampa Bay Times"
Post a Comment