Mural in Altadena Defaced Again

A mural outside a coffee shop in Altadena vandalized earlier this month has been vandalized again.

On May 4, Pasadena Now reported that the mural that has sparked controversy and calls for its removal by some residents was tagged with purple spray paint.

Supporters restored the artwork only to find more purple paint on the mural this past weekend.

“We’ll get it restored in the next few days,” Rene Amy told Pasadena Now.

According to Amy, an anti-graffiti coating will be placed on the mural to make it easy to clean.

“The only challenge is finding the time to clean up the mess,” Amy said.

Some say the mural depicts Black men attacking each other and struggling over weapons and is a racist and a painful reminder of violence that has plagued the area in the past.

Last month there were several protests at the coffee shop as community members attempted to convince the owners to remove the mural, which was only scheduled to remain up for one year.

Efforts to have the mural removed earlier were thwarted when the business owners said they would not remove the controversial artwork.

The mural is the work of Cleon Peterson. Peterson’s works have been featured in gallery and museum exhibits around the world. His illustrations have appeared in The New Yorker and The New York Times, and he has lived in Altadena for 14 years.