The mayor of Providence, Rhode Island, is advocating for the removal of a mural allegedly supported by Elon Musk, which is intended to commemorate Iryna Zarutska. Zarutska was tragically killed in a violent incident while on a train in North Carolina—a case that has intensified the debate over stricter penalties for repeat offenders.
According to WJAR-TV, the mural is unfinished and is painted on the exterior of The Dark Lady, a well-known LGBTQ+ venue in downtown Providence.
A memorial for Zarutska in Charlotte, North Carolina, serves as a tribute to her memory. However, Providence’s Mayor, Brett Smiley, believes that the mural in his city should be removed, despite its intent to honor Zarutska.
Mayor Smiley’s office expressed his desire to see the mural taken down, stating, “While the murder of the individual depicted is a heartbreaking tragedy, the divisive nature of murals like these, which are funded across the country, does not align with the values of Providence.”
Smiley emphasized his ongoing support for local artists, encouraging the community to back creative efforts that foster unity rather than division.
He said he continues to “encourage our community to support local artists whose work brings us closer together rather than divide us.”
Artist Ian Gaudreau, who began the work last week, told the news outlet that he never intended for the tribute to be political.
Upon learning of a project to memorialize Zarutska, Musk said he would donate $1 million in a September 2025 post on X.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks on the fatal stabbing of Ukrainian woman Iryna Zarutska aboard a North Carolina train during a press briefing, Sept. 9, 2025, at the White House in Washington, D.C. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)
Zarutska, a 23-year-old refugee who fled her country after the Russian invasion, was brutally stabbed to death in an unprovoked attack while riding the Lynx Blue Line light rail in Charlotte, N.C., last year.
The suspect, Decarlos Brown Jr., 34, is charged with violence against a railroad carrier and mass transportation system resulting in death, which is a capital offense under federal law.
Records from the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction show Brown has a prior criminal history, including convictions for larceny, breaking and entering and armed robbery.
He served five years in prison starting in 2015.
Iryna Zarutska curls up in fear as a man looms over her during a disturbing attack on a Charlotte, N.C., light rail train last year. (NewsNation via Charlotte Area Transit System)
Zarutska’s death prompted questions about soft on crime policies adopted by many Democratic-run cities. President Donald Trump spotlighted the killing during his State of the Union address last month.
“Iryna was riding home on the train when a deranged monster, who had been arrested over a dozen times and was released through no-cash bail, stood up and viciously slashed a knife through her neck and body,” Trump said.
“She had escaped a brutal war only to be slain by a hardened criminal set free to kill in America,” he added. “Ms. Zarutska, tonight I promise you we will secure justice for your magnificent daughter.”
Smiley’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
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