Inside the push to SAVE mural to murdered Ukrainian refugee after woke backlash silenced tributes

Dan McDonald
Sat, 04 Apr 2026 13:00:02 +0000

A movement is mounting in the US to save a tribute to a murdered Ukrainian refugee after it was "silenced" by left-wing protests.

Brett Smiley, the Mayor of Providence, Rhode Island, had labelled the mural to Iryna Zarutska "misguided" and "divisive" just days ago.

Ms Zarutska, just 23, fled Ukraine following Vladimir Putin's invasion invasion in 2022 - but was stabbed to death on a train, sparking outrage in America after CCTV footage of her death was revealed.

Donald Trump himself has paid tribute to the slain 23-year-old - and murals have popped up across the States mourning her killing.

TRENDING

Stories

Videos

Your Say

The Dark Lady, a gay bar in Providence, had been the mural's home - but its owners appeared to cave into outrage - and announced the half-finished tribute would be removed.

Now, a local Republican organiser is hitting back at Mr Smiley - and is backing a campaign to save the mural.

Anthony D’Ellena, a Rhode Island GOP field organiser, criticised Providence Mayor Brett Smiley’s remarks, accusing Democrat leadership of trying to “shut down the reminder” of the killing.

“My reaction was one of deep disappointment and disbelief,” he told GB News.

“Mayor Smiley claims the mural is ‘divisive.’ No, Mayor - the murder was divisive.

“The failure to protect innocent people is divisive. The instinct to erase the memorial instead of face the truth is what tells people everything they need to know about where the Democratic party’s priorities truly lie.”

Mr D’Ellena said the case resonated globally because of the circumstances surrounding Ms Zarutska’s death.

“She fled the horrors of war in Ukraine seeking safety and freedom in America, the land of opportunity, only to be brutally murdered in a random, unprovoked attack by a career criminal who should never have been on the streets,” he said.

Killer Decarlos Brown Jr, 34, has an extensive criminal record which includes convictions for larceny, breaking and entering, and armed robbery.

“People worldwide saw themselves or their loved ones in her - a young woman simply trying to build a new life, working an honest job, riding public transit home.”

US POLITICS - READ THE LATEST:

Donald Trump appoints JD Vance as ‘fraud czar’ in crackdown on ‘free-for-all’ taxpayer theft

Yvette Cooper refuses to say if US is ally after Donald Trump said 'we won't be there for you'

Donald Trump ‘very angry’ as he considers sacking more ‘underperforming’ Cabinet members

He added that the killing had “shed a light” on the consequences of failed criminal justice policies.

“It struck a nerve because it revealed the human cost when ideology is placed above public safety,” he said.

The President, during his State of the Union address earlier this year, also voiced his fury at career criminal Brown Jr's attack.

"Iryna was riding home on the train when a deranged monster, who had been arrested over a dozen times and was released through no-cash bail, stood up and viciously slashed a knife through her neck and body," Mr Trump said.

The President had invited Ms Zarutska's mother Anna to watch his address.

As he described her death in detail to American lawmakers, Anna wept - and was comforted by Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika.

Months on from the 23-year-old's death, Mr D’Ellena also suggested some on the left have been reluctant to engage fully with the circumstances surrounding the killing because "an honest discussion would force Democrats to confront the consequences of their own policies".

“The facts are uncomfortable for them - a man with 14 prior arrests, including for violent crimes, was released back onto the streets through lenient practices like cashless bail and weak judicial oversight.”

A protest had been planned to save the mural - though this was put on hold for the Easter weekend.

“We’ve decided not to move forward with a rally this weekend due to Easter, a time for reflection, faith, and family,” he said.

“Instead, we are focusing our efforts on the Change.org petition and continuing to raise awareness through public conversation and media."

The petition - which has been signed by more than 12,000 people - has been backed by the artist behind the mural, Ian Gaudreau.

Mr Gaudreau has admitted the mural will be forced to come down - though he hopes it may find a home elsewhere.

"It's painted on a surface that is removable so we're going to put it on a different building, hopefully," he confirmed.

Anywhere in central Providence with a 45-by-37-foot wall has since been urged to come forward and offer their support.

Though even if a new wall cannot be found, Mr D’Ellena has demanded tougher action on crime rather than symbolic gestures.

“In place of the silenced mural, I want to see real leadership and real action,” he said.

“End the leniency that puts predators back on our streets, support our police, reform bail so dangerous repeat offenders stay locked up, and restore the fundamental duty of government to protect its citizens above all else.”

“The time for excuses and cover-ups is over.”