A Black History Month mural in the window of a Harlem restaurant was targeted by a vandal who destroyed a portion of the glass work, police said Wednesday.
What We Know:
- Grainy surveillance video released by cops managed to capture the moment a man launched a stone into the plate-glass front window of Sapoara, a Latin-American restaurant on First Ave. near E. 117th St. early on Monday. The mural is displayed directly in the window.
- The stone bounced off the building, but cracked and splintered the window between images of Dr. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. “Mr. King & Mr. Malcolm endured much more than this!” restaurant staffers wrote on Instagram. “You both gave your lives for what you believed in more than 55 years ago, and you guys still have beef down here!”
- Giselle Malave, the restaurant owner, has stated this family-owned restaurant opened more than three years ago, and was always proud to celebrate Black History Month and participate in community events.
- She said she’s got no idea who the vandal was, adding: “We know people on a first-name basis.”
- Daniel Peguero was the fashion designer turned street artist who created the mural to celebrate the two respected civil rights leaders with differing views but similar goals.
- After checking local surveillance footage, officers were able to track the suspect to a nearby bodega where he was seen purchasing a drink. So far, he is described as a black man that was wearing a blue hoodie and black leather jacket.
No arrests have been made as the NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force is still investigating. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.
