GOOSE CREEK, S.C. – After learning that someone vandalized a Goose Creek business Sunday with the words “I can’t breathe,” the city’s mayor and police chief wasted little time cleaning up the damage.
The graffiti’s message is in response to the recent death of 46-year-old George Floyd of Minneapolis. On May 25, Floyd was arrested for using a fake $20 bill to purchase merchandise at a store. According to court records, when he resisted arrest, former officer Derek Chauvin placed his left knee in the area of Floyd’s head and neck for several minutes as Floyd remained face down on the ground. He later died after telling officers multiple times he couldn’t breathe.
Chauvin has since been fired and charged in connection with Floyd’s death, which has sparked protests all over the United States, including Charleston and Summerville. Many of those protests, however, have turned violent. In downtown Charleston Saturday night, riots broke out resulting in the looting and vandalism of many businesses.
“While the officials of Goose Creek both elected and appointed appreciate the right to peacefully protest, we DO NOT agree with damaging property, looting or violence,” the Goose Creek Police Department posted on its official Facebook page.
On Sunday, Chief L.J. Roscoe was sent pictures of graffiti that was painted on the Food Lion on Redbank Road just outside of the city limits. According to the police department, she immediately starting asking when the business owners were going to paint over the graffiti. After a lot of back and forth, the chief called Mayor Greg Habib, and they went and purchased the materials and painted it themselves.
“Despite being just outside of the city this was damaging to our fine city and none of our citizens or visitors should be forced to see ‘tagged’ walls at shopping centers,” the police department said.
After the two painted over the graffiti, many people took to social media and applauded them for taking swift action to clean up the community.
“It’s so great to see the initiative of the mayor and police chief and their willingness to help the city!” one person posted.
“I’m sad that this happened in our town, but I’m so thankful that our leaders stepped in to take care of things. Please stay safe and may God keep his protective arms around you all!” another person wrote.
Then there were some people who seemed to justify the illegal artwork painted on the business.
“Perhaps had the message got across when Colin Kaepernick was trying to peacefully protest, we wouldn’t be here,” this person posted. “But instead, the president staged an event in Sprint $325,000 to fly Mike Pence AC to a football game just so he could walk out when the players took a knee. Maybe that’s why we are where we are.”
While the Charleston peninsula and North Charleston remain under a curfew, Goose Creek currently does not. No protests have been planned in Goose Creek at this time.
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