The city of Santa Barbara, California, has reportedly removed a mural of George Floyd that was previously emblazoned on the side of a local building after it was the target of “repeated vandalism,” leading a Santa Barbara City Councilman to say that the removal of the mural was heartbreaking.
For background, on January 8, 2025, local Santa Barbara news outlet Noozhawk confirmed that a George Floyd mural had been removed from the side of a downtown lounge, with the outlet confirming that the owner of the building had ultimately decided to take the mural down after repeat incidents of vandalism.
In response to the removal of the mural, Santa Barbara City Councilman Oscar Gutierrez expressed sadness and frustration, saying, “The mural being painted over is disappointing, but I understand the difficult position that the artist and property owners were in.” He added, “It breaks my heart to know that there are members of our community that are so full of hate that they are willing to deface an expression of empathy and tolerance.”
Moreover, James Joyce III, the founder of a local Santa Barbara activist movement, also expressed frustration about the removal of the mural, saying, “That mural represented Santa Barbara’s small part in a global movement that was catalyzed by the killing of George Floyd.” Joyce continued, “The mural brought together many in our community.”
Continuing, Joyce said that the removal of the mural “has refocused a highlight on the division that continues to exist within our community and seems about in line with the intentional and systemic erasure of black contributions in America.” He concluded, “But as the saying goes, I guess all good things must come to an end.”
Importantly, several months later, on April 1, 2025, a similar mural was reportedly removed from the wall of a vacant building in Salt Lake City, Utah, leading one resident to tell NBC News, “It’s for the wrong reason — death at the hands of officers — but it was a place for us to mourn and show respect for the lives lost.” She added, “And now it’s gone. That’s sad.”
Moreover, Salt Lake City Council Member Darin Mano issued a statement on the mural’s removal, pointing to the building’s upcoming redevelopment and saying, “I recognize that this block has been a sacred place for many in recent years—a place of mourning for families and a powerful call for social justice and police reform.”
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Continuing, Mano added that Salt Lake City “has been working for over a decade” to redevelop the location where the mural formerly stood, going on to say that the buildings “were no longer structurally or environmentally viable, with the goal of making it a public asset for the community.” He concluded, “As we move forward, I am proud to have advocated for three acres of much-needed public green space.”
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