Mural of George Washington seen as racist and set to be destroyed draws a crowd

A majority of those who came to see the mural, take pictures and snap selfies seemed to be against its destruction, NBC Bay Area reported. The artwork, painted in 1935 by Russian immigrant Victor Arnautoff, was intended as a harsh critique of Washington’s legacy as America’s first president.

“Most people are painting glossy pictures of our founding fathers, and this is very contrary to that,” said the artist’s grandson Paul Arnautoff, who attended the public viewing.

But others, like Linda Fadeke Richardson, who is African American, backed the school board and said the images in front of her were “derogatory.”