MILWAUKEE — A controversial mural in Milwaukee that blended the Star of David with a swastika is being replaced.
This comes days after it was vandalized multiple times following its installation last week.
On Monday evening, the Wisconsin Coalition for Justice in Palestine rallied to defend the mural it says denounces the Israeli government’s treatment of Palestinians in Gaza.
That mural, which also had images of the destruction of Gaza in the background, read “the irony of being what you once hated.”
Ihsan Atta commissioned the painting on his building. He said the mural is not antisemitic but instead draws parallels to the treatment of Palestinians in Gaza today to the treatment of Jewish people during the Holocaust in World War II.
Atta said he plans to replace the mural with a new design after the original was vandalized multiple times.
However, he said the original will most likely be repainted and placed in a different spot that is harder to access.
“It will be a message showcasing freedom for all,” said Atta. “Just as this mural was showcasing that we didn’t want history to repeat itself, that never again meant never again for everyone and we wanted people to be aware of the genocide taking place against the Palestinians.”
Over the weekend, the Milwaukee Common Council issued a statement, saying the mural contains hurtful, divisive words and images and should be taken down. It was signed by every alderman except Lamont Westmoreland.
At the Wisconsin Coalition for Justice in Palestine Rally, Atta said there is a way he would consider the council’s suggestion.
“If they are willing to acknowledge, to condemn the genocide that’s taking place and to call for a ceasefire, albeit a symbolic one, I would be willing to reconsider not installing that mural,” said Atta.
The Wisconsin Coalition for Justice in Palestine is composed of 85 organizations that demand Wisconsin political leaders support a ceasefire in Gaza.
One of them is the Jewish Voice for Peace.
“For many Palestinians, the Star of David represents violence, murder and oppression, not unlike the swastika as it was used by Nazi Germany and this is clearly by the mural’s artist,” said Rachel Ida Buff, Jewish Voice of Peace.
While Atta wouldn’t share details of the new mural, he said the goal remains to raise awareness about what’s happening in Gaza.
“I think watching people being starved to death isn’t very palatable so if people are uncomfortable because of a piece of art, I ask those same people if they are uncomfortable watching a genocide take place against the Palestinians and Gaza and the West Bank,” said Atta.
Atta said the new design should be complete by Thursday, but he said doesn’t know when it will be installed.