SOUTHINGTON, Conn. — The removal of a mural depicting Black and brown children in Southington is causing controversy.
Some residents are demanding the Southington Unity Mural to be preserved and relocated, while owners say it’s their property and they can do what they want.
A local artist painted the unity mural in 2021 to honor MLK Jr.'s 39 years of life, depicting images of Black and brown children who actually live in Southington.
As the mural began to be power washed away Monday, several community members watched with a mix of emotions.
“It’s gross,” said Vanessa Hawke of Southington. “I personally am not going to get this stopped from happening right now. But it feels wrong to just let it wrong and at least not bear witness to it."
“How would you feel if you were one of those kids on that wall?” asked Regina Coviello of Southington.
Christina Marie Baca Rodriguez Simms of Southington said, “They call it the city of progress. But there’s no progress that I see here. This is a step back in time to erase Black and brown faces off a building.”
The mural, which was painted on private property on North Main Street, will be replaced with a mural honoring animals.
“The racial connotations are obvious,” Hawke said.
Others in town said it’s those insinuations, not the removal of a mural, that are offensive.
“Actually to be honest with you, I don’t think it’s any of their business,” said Bill McDougall of Southington. “They should just stop it and go home and the thing is gonna get painted over.”
McDougall showed us a picture of his dog, Casey, who died six months ago and will be among the many pets memorialized on a new mural titled “Unconditional Love," a fundraiser for the Friends of the Southington Animal Control.
“There’s always 10 or 15 people in any town. In particular, this town, who are stirring the pot,” McDougall added.
Those who are protesting the removal of the mural said the building’s owner, the Serafino family, has refused to engage in talks to preserve it.
“Yes, he chose not to talk to anyone because it’s a done deal and he felt like he was attacked like this morning when someone said something awful to him,” explained Nancy Serafino, the wife of owner Ron Serafino.
The Serafinos are longtime Southington business owners and said they are offended that anyone would suggest they have racial motivations.
“There’s no racism. At least not in my family. I feel bad about their feelings. But they can reproduce it,” Serafino said.
The Serafinos said if they were racist they wouldn’t have allowed for the mural to be on their building for three years in the first place.
They said the mural didn’t come out quite the way it was described and that it is time for a new group of people to enjoy a new piece of art.
Matt Caron is a reporter at FOX61 News. He can be reached at mcaron@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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