SOUTHINGTON, Conn. — A proposed mural replacement is raising racial concerns in Southington.
“We want to make sure that Southington is a very inclusive town and that all people are represented,” said Joan Hurley, a member of Southington Women for Progress, who also had a hand in painting the existing Southington Unity Mural.
The mural was painted on the side of the 70 North Main Street building in Southington back in 2021, as part of the national MLK39 Project.
Those who built it have gotten word of a plan to re-paint it as a mural memorializing deceased pets.
“Some of our concerns are the symbolic implications of painting over children of color who live in the town, who are still presently in the town, with images of animals,” said Hurley.
She added that this all reportedly stems from an Oct. 1 expiration of a contract between RiseUp for the Arts, the organization behind the mural creation, and the owner of the building, which is private property.
There’s now an online petition to save the mural. That’s something those from surrounding towns, including Lauren McCarthy from Bristol, have already gotten behind.
“I think it speaks a lot to the issues that should be important to all of us of diversity, of inclusion, of tolerance; of being stronger as a community together than in little divisive circles,” said McCarthy.
The petition encourages residents to voice concerns to the Southington Chamber of Commerce and other town leaders. The Chamber of Commerce did not immediately respond to a FOX61 request for comment.
According to the Southington Town Manager’s office, “any plans to paint the mural are in no way affiliated with the town of Southington. The Chamber of Commerce is a separate entity, and the mural itself is on private property.”
Still, those speaking out are hoping their voices are heard.
“There really shouldn’t be a controversy,” said Hurley. “This is about humanity; it’s about interconnection. It’s about making sure that we’re all understood, and we’re all represented.”
“I just hope that enough people can kind of get behind this and know what’s going on because I think the majority of people will want to keep this,” added McCarthy.
As of Friday night, the petition had garnered nearly 900 signatures.
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Kaelee Collins is a multimedia journalist for FOX61 News. She can be reached at kcollins@fox61.com. Follow her on X, and Instagram.
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