Man charged after Black Lives Matter artwork vandalised

The posters which were part of Dundee's BLM Mural Trail at Slessor Gardens, were targeted earlier this month.

Man charged after Black Lives Matter artwork vandalised STV News

A man has been charged after posters supporting the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement were vandalised in Dundee.

The posters are part of the BLM Mural Trail at Slessor Gardens, a green space on the city’s rejuvenated waterfront, and were targeted earlier this month.

Sekai Machache’s “a BREAdTH apart” exhibition features 16 portraits of black people based in Scotland wearing bright face masks made from African fabrics, as well as two interpretation posters.

The 34-year-old charged in connection with what police described as racially-motivated vandalism will be reported to the procurator fiscal.

Inspector Martin Jenkins said: “Whilst incidents of this type are rare, we will not tolerate any racially-motivated crime in the Tayside area.

Artist Sekai Machache's BLM artwork vandalised in Dundee.STV News

“My message to everyone, whether they have been a victim of this sort of behaviour or witnessed it, is to please report it to us.

“We will take all reports seriously and will thoroughly investigate all instances of this nature to ensure offenders are brought to justice.”

Following the vandalism, local people were among those donating to the Mural Trail’s GoFundMe page which has now allowed the work to be reinstalled.

The exhibition was slated to be on display from September 18 to October 30.

Dundee City Council leader John Alexander said: “I am impressed by the reaction of the people of Dundee who immediately donated to a fundraising campaign to replace the posters at Slessor Gardens.

“The artist also described the support she received as overwhelming.

“I am grateful to Police Scotland for their work on this matter.”

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