Two Famous George Washington Statues Slathered With Red Paint By Vandals

Vandals did not spare the two statues of George Washington that were standing on either side of the famous NYC arch. A surveillance video captured the scene early Monday when a female suspect dressed in white, with a white bow on her hair and a male suspect wearing a black shirt and shorts, tossed balloons filled with red paint toward the statues. The video recording indicates the incident happened around 3:20 a.m. and also shows the two suspects escaping the scene aboard Citi Bikes.

Early 20th-Century Monuments

The statues, which were constructed between 1890 and 1892, commemorated the centennial of George Washington’s inauguration as US President. One of the statues depicted Washington as a president and the other as a general of the Revolutionary War forces. On Monday, New Yorkers saw the statues dripping with the still-fresh red paint just before 8 a.m.

Fragments of the red-paint filled balloons were discovered by authorities scattered at the scene. The suspects also left behind a blue plastic cooler that the suspects may have used to tote the balloons. The cooler still contained red paint when the police found it.

More Paint

Authorities also found that the vandals used white spray paint to create the outlines of 24 bodies around the fountain situated in the park. They also tossed red balloons at the bodies, making it look like they have been shot.

In an interview with The Post about the damage wrought on the park, Dr. Iven Young, an 86-year-old local, said that there is blood on the hands of George Washington. “I’m in favor of them defacing,” he said.

A Controversial Figure

Washington is regarded as a controversial figure. This is because while he helped establish the United States, he also owned hundreds of slaves. He was viewed as one of those who are responsible for the deaths of many Native Americans.

Recent protests over racial discrimination and inequality, particularly after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minnesota police officers, brought about prominent statues being subjected to vandalism, and in some cases, torn down. Some locals, however, are not in favor of such acts of vandalism. According to 61-year-old Steve Romano, a doctor who lives within the vicinity where the twin statues are located, he felt the city is being passive about such acts. “It’s horrible. It’s getting out of hand. I do not support defacing our monuments. It’s very frustrating,” he said.