A mural depicting several notable African Americans on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis was vandalized and defaced with racist graffiti. The faces of some of the African Americans were painted over and the name of a White supremacist group was painted on the mural.
The mural entitled “The Never-Ending Story” was produced by six local artists in 2020. It is on the wall of a pedestrian tunnel under Forsyth Boulevard.
Andrew D. Martin, chancellor of Washington University, said in a statement that “this is horrifying and distressing. We’re shocked and saddened by this hateful act on our campus. Washington University stands unequivocally against hate, bigotry, racism, xenophobia, and discrimination in any form. There is no place on our campus for these behaviors and this type of harmful action will not be tolerated or ignored.
“This incident is a painful reminder that we have a great deal of work to do – as a society and as a university community – to create and maintain an environment where all feel welcome, supported, and safe,” Dr. Martin continued. “We remain committed to putting our values into action to help create needed change, both within ourselves as individuals, and collectively in our community, country, and world. The mural has been a source of pride and inspiration for our university community, and we will not let this act of cowardice deter us from celebrating our rich cultural histories, especially the outstanding contributions of people who have led the way toward greater equity and understanding.”
