SOHO Urges Stop to Chicano Park Vandalism

SOHO Urges Stop to Chicano Park Vandalism
May/June 2018

Long a local treasure trove of cultural and political murals, Chicano Park was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2017. Recently, it has been the target of several seemingly racially motivated acts of vandalism, reflecting disrespect of the Latino community. Collaborating with the Chicano Park Steering Committee, SOHO sent a letter to San Diego's new Police Chief David Nisleit in March, requesting that the Police Department aggressively thwart any attempts to denigrate or damage the park and its artwork by anyone seeking to stir up racial division in our diverse community. This request was acknowledged by a phone call from the chief's office, letting SOHO know he had reviewed the letter and met with the Chicano Park Steering Committee.

Chicano Park is closely associated with the Chicano civil rights movement and home to the largest collection of outdoor murals in the United States. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this site also has the rare dual distinction as a National Historic Landmark. These two federal designations have been bestowed following extensive and rigorous evaluation, confirming that Chicano Park is a significant cultural resource deserving of the highest level of protection.

SOHO encourages local law enforcement to monitor and protect these irreplaceable murals from threats of vandalism and to prosecute anyone found to have purposefully damaged the park's art and historic fabric.

Thank you, Chief Nisleit and the SDPD for your support and ongoing protection of the nationally and locally significant Chicano Park!

Photos by Sandé Lollis

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