WATCH: 'Disheartened' Artist Repaints Vandalized Mural In Community

Massapequa NY

04 May, 2022

12:18 PM

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MASSAPEQUA, NY — An artist, who was commissioned by the Long Island Rail Road to paint murals at the Massapequa Preserve, is cleaning up graffiti at her work. Arlene McLoughlin, a guest on Wednesday's "Patch AM," said she donated eight murals four years ago for the overpass. However, her art and the nearby area were recently vandalized, she said. The murals "were desecrated with anti-Semitic slurs, homophobic slurs and racial, disparaging comments," she said. McLoughlin went to the location last week to redo her artwork, but noticed the graffiti throughout, "so I took it upon myself to repaint everything." Alerted by the LIRR of the graffiti problem, they would address it in time, "but it wasn't of immediate importance, because it wasn't a danger to the community," they told her. McLoughlin said: "It was very disheartening to see so many families that go there every weekend with their little kids that can read and can see those things." Watch the full Patch AM interview below.