San Jose Students' Peace Mural Defaced; Reward Offered
SAN JOSE (KCBS) - Vandals have defaced a peace mural painted by student artists to promote peace and community in East San Jose, although investigators do not believe the vandalism is gang-related.
The paint had barely dried when red spray paint and pink splotches appeared on the mural near Welch Park late Monday night or Tuesday morning.
KCBS' Matt Bigler Reports:
Some residents suspect a neighbor who had complained about the mural may be to blame.
"We're at a point now where the gangs understand, but ordinary adults don't. It makes us aware of a different problem that we need to address," said Santa Clara County Supervisor Dave Cortese.
His office sponsored this mural and 6 others around the city to promote peace and community. Only the mural at the corner of Huran Drive and Santiago Avenue has been defaced.
Cortese's office is offering a $1,000 reward in the case.
"We want to teach the kids that you can work within the rules to try to put pressure on people to make things like this right," he said.
The woman who owns the fence there said she would let the community decide whether to repaint it, or to let the graffiti stand.
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