A mural dedicated to West Philly police officer Sgt. Robert Wilson III murdered in 2015 was vandalized over the weekend, according to reports. The mural, located at 60th and Baltimore, was spray-painted with anti-police slogans:
THIS. IS. A. DISGRACE. Sgt. Robert Wilson is a true Phila. hero who risked & gave his life to protect fellow Philadelphians. Do not insult the memory & service of real heroes who KNOW the real meaning of “Protect and Serve”. Disgust for the defacer! https://t.co/zo2KdoiJnq
— Michael A. Nutter (@Michael_Nutter) August 31, 2020
An $11,000 reward has been offered for information leading to an arrest in this case – $10,000 from the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police and $1,000 from two anonymous donors.
Officer Wilson, a father of two young children, served in the 22nd Police District in North Philadelphia. He was shot and killed during an attempted robbery inside a North Philly business in March 2015.
Philadelphia artist David McShane designed the mural, which was unveiled in 2017. He came to clean the mural as soon as he heard that it had been vandalized:
Sgt Robert Wilson III ‘s West Phila mural vandalized. The artist who painted the mural heard about the vandalism & within an hour came here to clean it. @6abc pic.twitter.com/bUzSN5H08l
— Annie McCormick (@6abcAnnie) August 30, 2020
UPDATE: Senator Anthony H. Williams is inviting community members to speak out against “this disgraceful act of vandalism” and honor the memory of Sgt. Robert Wilson III tomorrow, Sept. 1 at 9:30 a.m. at Millick St. and Baltimore Ave (near 61st and Baltimore).
August 31st, 2020 at 6:52 pm
Choosing who does and does not get a mural in their honor is an editorial decision made by those with the power to do so. If government just wanted to honor those who died unfairly, there would be a lot more murals out there. Needless to say, a good number of those murals would honor friends, neighbors and family members who have died at the hands of police.
Deep condolences to all who have lost loved ones and may we foster a world with much less violence, but much more justice.
September 1st, 2020 at 12:43 pm
Wilson, a 30-year-old father of two and an eight-year veteran of the force, was shot and killed when he interrupted a robbery at a North Philly GameStop on March 5, 2015. Wilson, who was credited with drawing the robbers’ attention away from staff and customers at the store, was posthumously awarded the National Medal of Valor by President Barack Obama the following year.
September 1st, 2020 at 7:38 pm
Based on the graffiti it appears that this attack on the memory of a man who is widely revered in the Black community and elsewhere was carried out by suburban white kids who pontificate about “privilege” and “racism” yet are oblivious to their own.
September 3rd, 2020 at 2:08 pm
This reeks of the west philly chapter of antifa.
September 3rd, 2020 at 4:28 pm
What about that planeload of dark-clad strangers with nothing on their mind but stirring up trouble? Do George Soros or Bill Gates know anything about this? Who really IS behind the outside agitators?
September 4th, 2020 at 9:56 am
@ George – It would not surprise me if it were white, elitist suburbanites who are cowardly anarchists looking for a thrill in their otherwise dull, pampered lives. In any case, they were cowards hiding in the darkness of night. They and their ilk seek nothing other than chaos and the overthrow of our institutions. Our institutions are always in need of reform. But I’ll take them over any the leftist rabble want to put in place.
September 4th, 2020 at 12:19 pm
Just look at the names they use: BLM, ANTIFA. That should tell you something.
Our President said, “the United States of America will be designating ANTIFA as a Terrorist Organization” and that should be enough right there.