State Representative David Morales of Rhode Island, a Democrat, has criticized the mural dedicated to Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee murdered by a career criminal, deeming it ‘divisive.’
The artwork, created by Ian Gaudreau, was a representation of Zarutska on the wall of The Dark Lady, an LGBT nightclub in Providence. This mural aimed to pay tribute to her memory amidst a nationwide memorial initiative.
Efforts for the project commenced on March 30, but city officials quickly intervened due to backlash from the community. The owners of The Dark Lady then announced their decision to remove the mural, which was later confirmed by Gaudreau.
Morales, who is running for mayor of Providence, publicly supported the removal of the mural.
He stated, “We’re witnessing a right-wing movement that is capitalizing on the death of the refugee to incite division. Our goal is to ensure that every resident of Providence feels secure,” as reported by local news outlet WJAR.
He further asserted that the mural does not represent the values of Providence.
#New: We caught up with Providence mayoral candidate @DavidMoralesPVD to ask for his thoughts on the mural.
He says the project is part of a “right-wing movement” that is exploiting Iryna Zarutska’s death. @NBC10
You can watch part of our interview here: pic.twitter.com/EQgNQ3Hht2
— Ryan Medeiros (@RRyanmedeiros) March 30, 2026
Iryna Zarutska was a 23-year-old refugee who fled from the ongoing war in Ukraine and ended up in Charlotte, North Carolina. On August 22, 2025, she was tragically murdered while using public transport.
Video footage revealed the horrific attack by Decarlos Brown Jr., a 34-year-old, who stabbed her multiple times without provocation. She tragically succumbed to her injuries on the scene.
Prior to this incident, Brown had amassed a lengthy criminal history with over 14 arrests, including convictions for armed robbery and assault.
His criminal background also included recent mental health issues, leading to an involuntary commitment request earlier in 2025. Despite this, he remained free until the tragic event took place.
Following Zarutska’s murder, North Carolina legislators enacted “Iryna’s Law,” designed to prevent lenient criminal justice reforms like cashless bail and ensure detention for violent offenders.
