RIPON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Is the controversial “Black Lives Matter” mural in Ripon appropriate?
The city’s Historic Preservation Commission decided it is on Wednesday, after receiving more than 75 pages of supportive emails and letters, including one from the president of Ripon College.
“It’s just really heartwarming to be able to know that I live in a community that really supports inclusion,” said Sam Luna, co-owner of The Heist, the building the mural is painted on.
Rafael Salas, Ripon College professor of Art and the artist of mural tells FOX 11 the backing of the painting says a lot about the people living in the city.
“It’s a message, I think, that this town, and this city, and this community and Ripon College, itself, will stand behind.”
The emails spoke loud and clear, one saying that “all lives can’t matter, until Black lives matter.”
“I will never know what it will be to be a person of color, that is very clear,” said Andrew Sorensen of Ripon.
“Unless, you are a person of color in this room, you will not ever know what it is to be a person of color!”
Ripon resident Judy Neill cautioned the commission about what its decision will do.
“We need to consider that whatever we do about this sends a message throughout our community and beyond our community.”
Some say the mural does send a message, just not the right one.
“We have to have rules in place and, once you start violating that, you’re sending a different message than what you guys are trying to clearly, nicely send a message, but you guys are in violation” Rob Wittchow of Ripon said to Luna and Salas.
“If you are in violation, another message is going to be sent.”
In violation, because when Salas painted the mural outside Luna’s restaurant, he didn’t apply for a permit first.
“We didn’t do what we did to break the law,” said Luna. “We thought that the code of exemption fit for us.”
The message behind the mural was referred to as “the big elephant in the room,” and saying that the decision on whether to keep it up, or take it down has nothing to do with the meaning would no longer be tolerated.
“There’s no other way to see it, beyond the message,” Salas said.
Wittchow says if the mural stays put, he’ll send a message of his own.
“I will be submitting this permit to paint MAGA 2020 on the street of Ripon, because if you guys can have your thing, then I can have mine.”
Sorensen suggested the commission talk to any minority they know to ask their opinion, before making a decision about the mural.
“When we sit in a roomful of white people, making decisions about minorities, that’s a problem!”
The Historic Preservation Commission approved the permit the artists initially failed to submit, but not before they were slapped with a fine of $805, “for failure to cover or remove painting 72 hours after receiving the certified letter from Ripon’s buildings inspector.”
The approval means the mural will remain in Ripon’s historic district, at least for now.
Ripon’s city council will have the final say on the mural at its next meeting Monday.
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