Ogden paintings honoring black Americans vandalized
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1 Comment [ View ]By SAM COOPER
Standard-Examiner staff
OGDEN -- Two murals running along the side of Lorin Farr Park depicting black Americans were vandalized with white paint over the weekend, but the creator of the art said he won't let racism get him down.
The images, one depicting two Buffalo Soldiers and the other a portrait of Dr. Martin Luther King, were painted earlier this summer as part of a community project to beautify the section of trail running alongside the Ogden River.
On Tuesday, Darnel Haney, who painted the murals along with his two sons, began to slowly cover over the white paint. The artist was angry as he painstakingly began to repair the damage.
"What hurts so much is to come and see that an individual could come and do such a thing," he said. "I'm not going to let them win. You can have racism in this country, but we're all Americans. We all share this in this great nation."
Police have investigated the racially tinged vandalism and a report has been filed, said Vernon Hairston, Ogden's gang unit project coordinator, who organized the mural project.
"We will be seeking felony charges," he said. "They need to know that this isn't a game people are playing. This is serious business. A lot of people are upset."
Any and all vandalism to the paintings will result in a felony charge, he said.
To help protect the art, plans are in the works to install surveillance cameras on that section of the trail, Hairston said, adding that since it began earlier this summer, the river walk mural project has been a huge success.
"We have people waiting in line to paint, we just need places to do it," he said.
Haney said he'll repaint the murals again if the vandals ever return.
"I'll be back," he said. "I'm not going to let them win."
Anyone with information about the vandalism is encouraged to call the Ogden Police Department at 395-8221.
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