Jackie Robinson and Minnie Miñoso Murals Defaced in Miami Hate Crime

In a disheartening act of vandalism, murals honoring baseball legends Jackie Robinson and Minnie Miñoso have been defaced at Miami's historic Dorsey Park. These artworks, part of a cherished collection celebrating baseball icons, have stood as symbols of inspiration since 2011. Now, they bear the ugly scars of hatred, with Nazi symbols reportedly scrawled across them, as revealed during a community news conference.

The discovery of this desecration, first noticed by a 7-year-old boy, has struck a deep chord in the community. Dorsey Park, once a field for Negro League teams, holds a sacred place in history, making this act all the more painful. Plywood now covers the damaged murals, but as Terrance Cribbs-Lorrant, executive director of the City of Miami Black Police Precinct, passionately stated, covering up the damage doesn’t erase the underlying hurt and hatred. It’s a call to confront, not conceal, the prejudice that festers in the shadows.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick didn’t mince words, labeling the vandalism a 'vile act of hatred' and a hate crime meant to sow fear and division. Yet, her response was one of defiance and unity, emphasizing a commitment to preserving history and justice. It’s a reminder of what Robinson and Miñoso stood for—breaking barriers. Robinson, the first Black player in Major League Baseball with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, and Miñoso, MLB's first Afro-Latino player with the Chicago White Sox, embody resilience against adversity.

Police are actively investigating, though no arrests have been made yet. This incident isn’t just an attack on art; it’s an assault on the values these legends represented. The community now faces a challenge—not just to repair the murals, but to heal the deeper wounds of intolerance that this act has exposed.