MIAMI — Two murals honoring Black history have been vandalized at Dorsey Park in Miami’s Overtown neighborhood.
Racist graffiti was seen spray-painted all over the image of legendary baseball player Jackie Robinson, created by artist Kyle Holbrook.
A swastika, the n-word and other offensive language were spray painted on the mural located along Northwest 17th Street and First Avenue.
A mural of Cuban baseball player Minnie Miñoso was also vandalized.
“The person that saw this was Jayden Floyd, a 7-year-old young man who came outside on a Sunday and saw the defacement that took place and asked his mom what it meant, what it was,” Nicole Crooks, of Catalyst Miami, said.
Local leaders, artists and residents are already organizing efforts to restore the mural.
A press conference about the incident was held Tuesday morning by concerned citizens and community organizations.
“Today we are here to document that a hate crime has happened in our community,” Metris Batts-Coley, of the Overtown Business Association, said.
“What you see behind me is not paint on the wall, it’s pain, it’s hate, it’s disgrace,” added Anthony Robinson, of the Overtown Children and Youth Coalition.
The park has a history of its own as it was named after Miami’s first Black millionaire and was the former home of the city’s Negro League baseball team.
The vandalism was first spotted earlier this week on top of the image of Jackie Robinson, who famously broke baseball’s color barrier.
“The individual who did this is hurting, the individual who did this feels that they have been embodied with the ability to spill their hate back onto a community that has not served them hate,” Terrance Cribbs-Lorrant, of the Miami Black Police Precinct Museum, said.
The mural was originally commissioned back in 2012 to commemorate the park’s history and honor Black icons.
Now, those images of achievement have been covered up by city workers as crews work to remove the symbols of hate and restore the artwork to its original form.
As for the person behind the vandalism, residents and nearby business owners shared a strong, yet simple message.
“Whoever it was, we want you to come forward, we want to hear you, we want you to know your pain is misplaced,” Cribbs-Lorrant said.
American Jewish Committee Miami and Broward Director Brian Siegal issued the following statement on June 11 about the acts of vandalism:
“To see Nazi swastikas and a racial slur sprayed over these images of courage is both painful and unacceptable. These murals—celebrating two trailblazers who broke racial and ethnic barriers—stand as powerful reminders of our shared history and the progress we must continue to make. We stand firmly against every expression of hatred, bigotry, and intolerance. This act is not just vandalism, it is an assault on the very values of unity, dignity, and mutual respect that underpin our community and nation.
“We offer our full support to the local leaders and organizations working to restore the murals and welcome the City of Miami Police Department’s investigation of this incident as a hate crime. Our hearts go out especially to the Overtown community, and to young people—especially children—who should never be exposed to such hateful symbols.
“We join with U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus‑McCormick and other civic leaders in declaring: we will not be intimidated. Instead, we respond with courage, solidarity, and hope. We will work together to rebuild—not just walls of art—but the bonds of understanding and respect that unite us.”
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