The mayor of Providence wants the honor of Iryna Zarutska removed from the wall
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The mayor of Rhode Island’s capital is calling for the removal of a mural reportedly backed by Elon Musk honoring Iryna Zarutska – the Ukrainian woman whose brutal murder on a North Carolina train led to harsher punishment for criminals.
The mural, outside The Dark Lady, an LGBTQ+ club in downtown Providence, remains intact, WJAR-TV reports.
WHO IS IRYNA ZARUTSKA, THE UKRAINIAN ARTIST KILLED IN THE CHARLOTTE TRAIN ATTACK?
Memorial dedicated to Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte, NC A mural honoring Zarutska in Providence, RI, should be taken down, the blue-collar Dem mayor says. (Peter Zay/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Mayor Brett Smiley’s office told the media they want the artwork taken down.
“The killing of the person depicted in this painting is a tragedy, but the wrongful, divisive intent of those paintings to fund like the rest of the county is divisive and does not represent Providence,” Smiley said in a statement.
He said he continues to “encourage our community to support local artists whose work brings us together rather than dividing us.”
Artist Ian Gaudreau, who started work last week, told the newspaper that he did not intend the honor to be political.
When he heard about the Zarutska memorial project, Musk said he would donate $1 million by September 2025 to X.
PAM BONDI SAYS DEATH CHAPTER IS CHANCE TO KILL IRYNA ZARUTSKA
White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt speaks about the stabbing of Ukrainian woman Iryna Zarutska aboard a North Carolina train during a press conference, September 9, 2025, at the White House in Washington, DC. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)
Zarutska, a 23-year-old refugee who fled her country after the Russian invasion, was brutally stabbed to death in an unprovoked attack while riding the Lynx Blue Line in Charlotte, NC, last year.
The suspect, Decarlos Brown Jr., 34, is charged with aggravated assault against a train driver and conspiracy to commit mass transit resulting in death, which is a capital offense under federal law.
Records from the North Carolina Department of Corrections show Brown has a prior criminal history, including convictions for burglary, burglary and armed robbery.
He served five years in prison from 2015.
Iryna Zarutska cowers in fear as a man climbs her during the Charlotte, NC, light rail attack last year. (NewsNation via Charlotte Area Transit System)
Zarutska’s death has raised questions about crime policies adopted by many Democratic-controlled cities. President Donald Trump witnessed the killing during his State of the Union address last month.
“Iryna was riding home on the train when a depraved monster, who has been arrested more than 12 times and has been released without bail, stood up and slashed her with a knife in the neck and body,” Trump said.
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“He had escaped a brutal war but was killed by a stubborn criminal who was released to kill in America,” he added. “Miss Zarutska, tonight I promise you that we will do justice to your beautiful daughter.”
Smiley’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
