Mural Depicting Michael Brown Painted Over In Trenton
By Cleve Bryan
TRENTON, NJ (CBS) -- The muralist whose work depicted Ferguson, MO teen Michael Brown with the caption "sagging pants is not probable cause" says the artwork may have fulfilled its purpose by being removed.
"It was up for a week and nobody said anything, nobody probably even knew who it was, but the act of removing it started things," says muralist Will "Kasso" Condry.
The graffiti-style mural was blanked out on Monday at the direction of the Trenton Downtown Association.
Condry and fellow artist Byron "Black Collar Biz" Marshall from the SAGE Coalition came up with the concept for the mural based on a poem by local spoken word artist Caitlin Fair.
Fair took 2 trips to Ferguson following Brown's death and felt like the issue of profiling black males needed more attention.
"I felt (erasing the mural) was disrespectful not only to the people who were involved in the project, but most importantly to Mike Brown himself and I think that it's unfortunate that there wasn't a conversation about that prior to it taken down," says Fair.
TDA executive director Christian Martin says the order to remove the mural was in response to a request by some in law enforcement.
On Monday, October 13 two people were hospitalized after a shooting in the area of North Broad and Hanover Streets right next to the mural.
A member of the police department contacted the TDA expressing concern the mural might undermine work to build good will between the Trenton Police Department and the public.
When Condry said he wouldn't move or modify the mural it was removed.
He says despite its short life he considers the mural a success.
"The only intent was to get people talking, not to see it last up forever. It's temporary art at its best. But as long as we get the dialogue started that's the point," says Condry.
Martin was also positive saying, "It's definitely spurred a conversation in the city about profiling and police interaction which we hope will lead to better understanding."
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