East Nashville neighbors launch mural project to replace white nationalist graffiti on historic silo
By Kelsey Gibbs
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Neighbors in East Nashville are working to transform a symbol of hate into a community mural after graffiti tied to the white nationalist group Patriot Front appeared on a historic silo about a month ago.
The silo, located on Crutcher Street at a local mulch company, was vandalized with the words “Patriot Front” painted on its side. The property owner, who asked not to be named, says the city has not offered assistance in removing the graffiti. Instead, Metro Property Standards has issued demands, imposed a deadline, and threatened fines of up to $50 per day if the graffiti is not removed.
The owner said the city’s response has put the burden entirely on the victim.
“Rather than working with us to remove a hateful message from our community, Metro’s approach has been to threaten penalties against the victim of the vandalism while expecting the property owner to shoulder the entire financial burden,” the owner said.
Council member Clay Capp says the deadline for the property owner to clean up the graffiti is Monday. If it is not cleaned up by then, Capp said he will urge Metro Codes to seek enforcement. Capp says Metro Property Standards are in place for all property owners.
Property standards apply to property owners generally. The Codes Department (which is to say, the city taxpayer) doesn’t have a responsibility to pay to keep private property up to standard. That’s the property owner’s responsibility. I am hopeful this property will be back up to standard by Monday, in the period for compliance required by state law and provided by the Codes Department. Otherwise the property owner will be explaining to the city why he chose not to do that. Clay Capp
Area resident Ande Marie said she noticed the graffiti during her daily commute through the neighborhood.
“I saw it myself. I drive by this neighborhood every day. I live in the area. You can see it from I-24,” Marie said.
Marie said the graffiti was immediately recognizable and unacceptable.
“I saw it, and I’m familiar with what that group stands for. And obviously, a lot of us don’t stand for what they stand for. So it really was just a community initiative where a lot of us saw it and wanted to do something about it ourselves,” Marie said.
Rather than simply removing the graffiti, Marie and other neighbors saw an opportunity to make a stronger statement.
No police report has been filed in connection with the vandalism. Patriot Front is a white nationalist organization.
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