On May 1st of this year, we noticed the mural on our fence at our home was defaced with swastikas, fake bullet holes, and other hate-related vandalism. Before this, we witnessed three men urinating on the mural, specifically targeting the Black Lives Matter section. This mural was originally painted by our nephew, Tusweca Mendoza, in 2020. It was created in response to the murder of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter protests as a way to bring something positive to our neighborhood. He was 14 at the time, and his mural details the timeline of the Civil Rights Movement, specifically showcasing Indigenous Solidarity with Black Lives Matter.

Seeing the mural defaced with symbols of hate and violence was heartbreaking. For months, we hesitated to report or repair the damage. We hoped that by leaving it visible people would recognize the seriousness of what happened. Now, with the ongoing vandalism at the Mayflower Church and the community rallying around them, we felt it was important to share this story too. This isn’t just an isolated issue in Billings - it's something our whole community is facing together.

We are raising funds to replace the damaged section of fence and to commission a new mural, ideally with the help of our nephew and other local youth artists. Our goal is not just to restore what was lost - we want to keep the conversation going about hate, diversity, and understanding. We know our community is home to many different viewpoints, and we believe dialogue is essential for creating a strong community. It’s okay to disagree, but it’s never okay to spread hate. Your support will help us to continue bringing education & awareness to the shared history of our nation and find new ways to move forward together as a Billings community.