Police are trying to find out who defaced a Black Lives Matter sign in the town hall driveway late Wednesday.
Surveillance footage shows a person painting over the giant yellow letters at about 11:45 p.m., police spokesman Sgt. Mark Cleverdon said Thursday. Using a paint brush, the person then wrote “Blue Lives Matter” and “(Expletive) BLM,” Cleverdon said.
Residents had painted the BLM sign in mid-June after receiving permission from Mayor Andrew Paterna. Town workers on Thursday covered the defaced mural and the new messages with black sealer. Cleverdon said he did not know whether the BLM message will be repainted.
Residents spoke for and against the mural at the town council’s July 6 meeting, minutes show. Those opposed to the painting said it was done with no public input and some called for similar recognition of the Blue Lives Matter movement in support of police.
Madison Gonsalez, a BLM organizer, told the council that 2,500 people had signed a petition to keep the painting in front of town hall, according to the minutes.
Jesse Leavenworth can be reached at jleavenworth@courant.com
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