Basketball star, tattoo artists fight symbols of racism, hate in Kentucky
Former Murray State star and current Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant has asked a Kentucky judge-executive to have a Robert E. Lee statue removed from downtown Murray.
“Murray felt like a second home from the minute I stepped on campus and became a part of the Murray State community,” Morant said in a letter to Kenneth C. Imes, the Calloway County judge-executive. “It is full of people, families and students from all different backgrounds.
“As a young Black man, I cannot stress enough how disturbing and oppressive it is to know the city still honors a Confederate war general defending white supremacy and hatred.”
Morant said he was “extremely proud” of his ties to Murray State. He said he was honored to spend two years there and it helped him achieve his dreams. Morant was selected second overall in the 2019 NBA Draft and is a Rookie of the Year candidate.
“We can’t change the culture of racism unless we change the celebration of racism,” Morant said to Imes. “Please help us take a stand and remove this symbol of hatred and oppression.”
Morant isn’t the only one hoping to remove what he considers to be symbols of hate in Murray. Gallery X Art Collective, a tattoo shop in the city, is giving free cover-ups to people with hate symbols tattooed on their bodies.
Jeremiah Swift and Ryun King, the artists at the tattoo parlor, announced last weekend that they wanted to “get that sh** off your body.”
“If you feel it’s time to change your hate, or have been reformed but been too broke to cover your mistake of a tattoo, come see me,” the shop said on Facebook. “You’ll get a class tattoo for free that can start your path to being the person you were meant to be.”
One Facebook commenter who had a tattoo covered up was happy with the results.
“You guys rock! I’m so happy with the cover up and everything you guys are doing,” Jennie Tucker said. “Keep it up! Pickle Rick will bring so much more joy than that rebel flag. Thank you so much.”
The Facebook post said the cover-up deal applies to gang tattoos as well. Those getting a cover-up just have to choose from designs done by the artists, according to Gallery X’s Facebook account.
This story was originally published June 15, 2020 at 9:06 AM.