Councillors condemn vandals who defaced George Floyd mural

THREE leading city councillors have condemned vandalism to a mu r a l h i g h l i g h t i n g the death i n the US of George Floyd.

The Black Lives Matter tribute, created by graffiti artist Symon Mathieson, was defaced with a white supremacist cross symbol associated with the Klu Klux Klan.

City council leader John Alexander said: “Let us be absolutely clear t hat Dundee City Council stands against racism in the city, in Scotland and across the world.

“We do not pretend that there is not a problem here and an act of aggression and ignorance towards an artistic response t o a global crisis unfortunately i l l ustrates t hat point perfectly.

“Like everyone else, I have seen these things on social media, on the TV and in the news but acts like this one in the Hilltown bring it right to our doorsteps with an impact on us.”

Councillor Kevin Cordell, convener of the community safety and public protection committee, commended efforts to repair the mural but said the incident prompted questions about what action was now required to tackle racism.

Equalities spokeswoman Councillor Lynne Short said: “We stand with black and minority ethnic communities and we want to listen to what should be done to root out the evil of racism once and for all.”

She added: “It has no place in Dundee, no place in Scotland and no place in a world where hundreds of thousands of people are putting themselves on the line during a pandemic to say ‘enough is enough’ and it is time for fundamental change.”