Providence mayor defends remarks criticizing mural for deceased Ukrainian refugee

Providence Mayor Criticizes Cancelled Mural for Ukrainian Refugee

The mayor of Providence, Rhode Island, has once again spoken out against a cancelled mural project dedicated to Irina Zalutka, a Ukrainian refugee from North Carolina who was allegedly murdered by a repeat offender while riding public transportation last year.

Mayor Brett Smiley expressed regret over the current political climate in an interview, stating, “It seems that everything has become political, controversial, and complicated.” He added that while the loss of life is tragic, the situation was complicated further by misleading tweets from the president and a campaign allegedly funded by conservative billionaires, which had a negative impact on the community.

Smiley criticized the mural for not aligning with the city’s process for selecting public art. This particular mural was private and painted on the wall of a business.

Interestingly, Elon Musk contributed $1 million to support a national effort for murals depicting Zalutka.

In a statement, Smiley emphasized his belief that the mural was “divisive” and “misguided.” He indicated that the building’s owner may not have fully comprehended the mural’s implications. Though he was not attempting to suppress anyone’s speech, he thought that the mural would only deepen divisions within the community. He noted the intense protests and negative discourse surrounding the mural, suggesting that removing it might better serve community unity.

This week, Smiley referred to the mural as “divisive” again in a formal statement, noting that while Zalutka’s murder was a tragic event, the intent behind funding murals like this one does not represent the values of Providence. The statement further highlighted the city’s commitment to uplifting local artists whose work fosters community togetherness.

The mural was intended for display at The Dark Lady, a local LGBT bar.

Faced with backlash from the LGBT community and others, the bar initially defended their decision, claiming the accusations against them were unfounded. However, they later announced a temporary suspension of the mural project.

Ultimately, following “reflection and learning,” the attorney for the venue confirmed that the project would be permanently shut down.

Zalutka’s tragic death occurred on August 22, when she was randomly attacked and fatally stabbed from behind on a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina. The alleged perpetrator, DeCarlos Brown Jr., has a criminal history that includes theft and armed robbery. He had previously been incarcerated for five years.