Park Rally Planned to Salvage Mural

In an effort to save what is left of a vibrant mural on the cinder-block wall of a Ventura Avenue liquor store, westside residents will hold a rally Labor Day in Plaza Park.

The rally is scheduled for 4 p.m. at the Ventura Avenue Plaza in the park, at 570 N. Ventura Ave.

The purpose of the rally is to show support for the mural, said Avenue artist Len Evans, who planted flowers and built the tiny Plaza Park in front of the now half-obliterated mural.

“It is to save our mural,” Evans said. “But my position is, we will also be urging them to repaint the part that is gone.”

Children painted the mural in 1994, under the direction of Ventura artist M.B. Hanrahan.

The artwork, which was funded by the Ventura County Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs, features anti-gang and anti-drug messages aimed at discouraging criminals from frequenting the area.

The 12-by-72-foot mural captured national attention last year when it became one of 50 pieces of community art selected for depiction in an exhibit in Washington.

Store co-owner Kamil Yousef said earlier this month that he painted over part of the mural because his customers did not like it. He said he will keep the remaining section because he likes it.

The objectionable portion showed a billboard marketing tobacco and alcohol to children. Scrawled across the billboard were the words: “It’s not cool to target kids.”

Evans emphasized that the rally is not intended to persecute the owner.

“I’ve talked to the owner,” Evans said. “He’s very upset. We don’t want to attack him.”

Evans said there have always been those who said the mural’s message was too hard-edged for The Avenue. But losing part of it has brought many supporters out of the woodwork, he said.

“What I’ve found out is a lot of people have gone in there and yelled at the man,” Evans said. “He didn’t know what he was getting himself into.”