RIPON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – “Black Lives Matter” is painted in black and yellow on the side of The Heist restaurant in Ripon.
The owner says it’s meant to send a message, but the city says the mural isn’t allowed.
“This message is really meant to be a mirror,” said Sam Luna, owner of The Heist.
Luna painted that mirror with Ripon College art professor Rafael Salas.
Luna tells FOX 11 people want it removed, because they’re bothered by the reflection.
“If you can look at it and say the words out loud, and they don’t bother you, then perfect. If they do bother you, then maybe take a deep look at why is that?”
Salas has created murals in the city before, and was all in when Luna brought the idea of the Black Lives Matter mural to him.
“I didn’t anticipate the need to paint ‘Black Lives Matter in letters three feet tall in order for people to hear that message, but here we are,” Salas said.
The pair painted the three powerful words on the side of the restaurant.
They say it’s so people like Alyassa Burgess feel welcome in Ripon.
“When I heard that it was put up, I thought it was a wonderful, because they did put in hard work to put that up. To see that in a town like this was great for me.”
The artists didn’t anticipate running into any problems, but the city of Ripon sent Luna a letter asking him to get rid of it.
“The building is located in the historic downtown district in the city of Ripon and any exterior alteration or improvement, which art would be included, needs to have an application filed and a Certificate of Appropriateness issued,” attorney for the city of Ripon Ludwig Wurtz said.
Wurtz tells FOX 11 the possibility of the mural being removed has nothing to do with political views or opinions, it’s simply because the proper rules and steps weren’t followed.
Ripon’s Historic Preservation Commission recommends the mural come down.
Luna says he won’t do it.
“In this time that we’re in, doing that would’ve sent up a completely mixed message.”
Salas says he hopes people can look past the big picture and see what truly matters.
“At times, the letter of the law doesn’t promote justice, right? I mean, this is a law that doesn’t necessarily affect what we’re trying to communicate, and I hope that the community can see that that communication is really far more important than a small ordinance that we transgressed.”
The city says several people have complained about the mural.
Burgess tells FOX 11 it should stay.
“I think that people need to start realizing they should open up their minds and look at it from a different perspective, before they decide to take down something like that that’s supporting a great movement.”
The city’s common council is expected to make a decision on what the mural’s fate will be at its meeting on July 27.
