Vandals spray-paint ‘black art matters’ as fight over selling Harriet Tubman home continues

BOSTON — The fight to keep or sell the Harriet Tubman house took a turn over the weekend as vandals spray-painted words like “black art matters” and love over hate onto the home’s Honor Roll mural.

"Some of the frustration and anger people have around this has been misguided and misplaced, unfortunately," said Maicharia Weir Lytle, CEO of United South End Settlements who owns the building.

She says people fighting against the sale don't realize the home has moved twice before in the last century and this time feels there are no other options.

"We are selling so that we can continue to provide services to our community for the hundreds of children and families who rely on us for critical services especially right now," said Lytle.

That right now part is what has protesters like the ones we showed you last week surrounding the building.

"For this to come now,  it was just a slap in the face of so many people especially the people who are struggling in the city," said Kimberly Barzola of the I am Harriet Coalition.

Protesters say selling this more than $10 million building robs the community from the history and ownership they fought for and continues a destructive process of gentrification.

But the organization says it has to choose the people it serves over a building. It says the sale will create an endowment for future generations and keeps things running during a pandemic that is closing so many other nonprofits.

“For several months we had no income coming in, “said Lytle. “We are back open at less than half capacity for children and families due to regulations of public health so it’s been extremely challenging.”

She says the graffiti doesn’t help and dissenters should stick to protesting, attending meetings, and learning ways to contribute to its cause of disrupting the cycle of poverty especially to communities disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

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Cox Media Group