This Pro-Cop Mural In Florida Is An Eyesore

The painting, which reads “back the blue,” is not being received well by some residents of Tampa.

Could you tell that this pro-cop mural reads “back the blue”? No? Well, you’re not the only one.

A number of people have taken to social media to speak on the large painting, which was made on Saturday (August 1) in Tampa in front of the city’s police department.

In a report from the Tampa Bay Times, it hadn’t been approved by the city when it was made.

“The reason why we decided to proceed without a permit is because Black Lives Matter has murals all over the city that say Black Lives Matter, and they were not permitted,” Kristen Krutz, one of the organizers behind the mural, said.

It’s also worth noting that Krutz had predictably suggested “Blue Lives Matter” as another possible slogan alongside “back the blue.” Since its unveiling, the mural has been criticized on social media, with people speaking to not only how bad it looks but how it’s hard to even read what it says. Tampa Bay Creative Loafing even criticized the mural, headlining its story with: “Everyone’s roasting Tampa’s hilariously bad ‘Bock The Blub’ street mural.”

The pro-cop mural has also faced criticism on Facebook. On Sunday, the non-profit law enforcement organization Team South Florida shared an image of it on its Facebook page. The comments include both people in support of the mural, as well as those against it.

According to the Tampa Bay Times, the city will address the mural in a statement later today (Monday).