A project to honor murdered refugee Iryna Zarutska was officially canceled after a Democrat mayor threw his office’s weight behind claims the mural “further divides us.”
(Video Credit: NBC 10 WJAR)
Ever on brand, leftist proponents of soft-on-crime policies seem to have no qualms glossing over or outright trampling on the memories of those who’ve suffered from violent crime. The latest example came out of Providence, Rhode Island, where an in-progress outdoor mural in memory of Zarutska is now expected to be removed after Mayor Brett Smiley (D) deemed it divisive.
Despite being initially commissioned for the exterior of the drag show promoting bar The Dark Lady in Providence, the city’s openly homosexual mayor released a statement bucking the project, expressing, “The murder of the individual depicted in this mural was a devastating tragedy, but the misguided, isolating intent of those funding murals like this across the country is divisive and does not represent Providence. I continue to encourage our community to support local artists whose work brings us closer together rather than further divides us.”
Likewise, Smiley’s Democrat primary challenger, Rhode Island state Rep. David Morales, agreed, telling WJAR-TV, “We’re seeing a right-wing movement that is exploiting the death of the refugee for the purposes of trying to spread division.”
“Ultimately, we want to make sure that every community member that calls Providence home feels safe … and we can both agree that this mural behind us does not reflect Providence’s values,” contended the lawmaker.
In their own statement, the bar owners declared, “We heard you [Providence]. We are deeply and sincerely sorry for everything that has taken place over the past week. After reflecting and learning, we have made the decision to discontinue this project and will move forward with removal as soon as possible. We remain committed to fostering unity, safety, and care for all members of our community, and we will continue to listen, learn, and act with those values at the forefront.”
Following the tragic slaying of the Ukrainian refugee, allegedly at the hands of Decarlos Brown Jr., a man with prior convictions for armed robbery, breaking and entering, and larceny, Elon Musk pledged $1 million as part of an initiative to paint murals of the victim in cities across the country.
Artist Ian Gaudreau indicated that the nonprofit behind funding the mural “was mostly funded by Elon Musk, that is a fact.”
While the left endeavored to cover up the legacy of dangerous policies, President Donald Trump’s administration strove to shine a light on injustice, with the chief executive honoring the victim by hosting her mother, Anna Zarutska, at his 2026 State of the Union address.
“… so beautiful, what a beautiful young woman — Iryna fled war-torn, war-torn Ukraine to live with relatives near Charlotte, North Carolina,” explained the president who went on, “Last summer, 23-year-old Iryna was riding home on the train when a deranged monster who had been arrested over a dozen times and was released through no cash bail, stood up and viciously slashed a knife through her neck and body.”
In his own remarks later that week, Vice President J.D. Vance slammed Democrats for refusing to stand and honor the guests Trump invited to this address, including Zarutska as he said, “What is it about a political movement that sees the mother of a woman who was murdered on a bus, because the president highlighted this woman … and the Democrats cannot even stand up and cheer for that?”
Using her platform to decry Smiley and other leftists, Rhode Island state Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz (R) sounded off on the move, rebuking those in the state capital, “Providence calls itself the ‘Creative Capital’–but is it? This isn’t a vulgar or explicit mural. It’s a portrait–a face–memorializing a victim. The First Amendment exists to protect expression like this, even when it’s uncomfortable. Ordering it removed isn’t leadership. It’s censorship. Hard to square ‘No Kings’ rhetoric with acting like one. You don’t get to be the Creative Capital if creativity needs permission.”
Providence calls itself the “Creative Capital”—but is it?
This isn’t a vulgar or explicit mural. It’s a portrait—a face—memorializing a victim.
The First Amendment exists to protect expression like this, even when it’s uncomfortable. Ordering it removed isn’t leadership. It’s… https://t.co/5us5BMO8R0
— Senator Jessica de la Cruz (@JessicaforRI) March 30, 2026
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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