More than $1m has been raised by Elon Musk and others to commission murals of Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee killed last year in Charlotte, North Carolina. The murals, appearing in cities including New York, Washington DC, Miami, and Los Angeles, have sparked debate over whether they honour her memory or are being weaponised by right-wing figures.
Zarutska was stabbed three times from behind while riding a light rail home from her job at a pizzeria. The suspected killer, Decarlos Brown Jr, had a history of mental health issues and multiple arrests. The attack was captured on surveillance video, which went viral and was seized upon by conservative circles as an example of urban violence.
Donald Trump called for the death penalty for Brown, describing him as an “animal”. Elon Musk claimed mainstream media was burying the story because Zarutska was white. JD Vance blamed “soft-on-crime” policies. Andrew Tate also commented. Eoghan McCabe, a Trump-supporting CEO, pledged $500,000 for murals, and Musk added $1m. The campaign raised over $104,000 on GiveSendGo, a Christian crowdfunding site that has also hosted fundraisers for the Proud Boys and January 6 rioters.
The murals, painted by artist Ben Keller, depict Zarutska with a blank expression. Some local residents have objected. One graphic artist near the Bushwick mural questioned its relevance, and graffiti reading “Fuck Trump” has appeared on the wall. Keller said the work was intended to honour Zarutska’s life.
