Mural Off Hate!
Topeka, Kansas also was a city that responded vocally to the murder of George Floyd. Protests were held here in the capitol city and the Topeka City Council convened a special meeting to hear citizen concerns about racial bias towards Black and Brown communities they too believed were occurring with the Topeka Police Department.
During this time, on Jun 11, 2020, racists graffiti was found on the basketball court and the outside walls of the bathroom facility at Santa Fe Park in Topeka’s Oakland community.
In response to this vile and cowardly act, three Mexican American artists from the Oakland area stepped forward and met with the Tonantzin Society. Their goal was to move as quickly as possible to create a four-panel mural with images that would help bring Oakland together rather than cause more separation. The Tonatzin Society was a co-sponsor along with Shawnee County Parks and Recreation and Burlington Northern Santa Fe. We thank lead artist Jamie Colon in addition to Andy Valdivia and Robert Tapley Bustamante.
Shawnee Co. Parks and Recreation and Tonantzin Society partner to plan a mural at Santa Fe Park
CapFed Best News: ‘Urban art project’ brings splash of color to Santa Fe park
