Local officials in Providence move to censor mural of slain Ukrainian immigrant Iryna Zarutska

Iryna Zarutska mural.

A mural paying tribute to a slain 23-year-old Ukrainian immigrant is being censored in Providence, Rhode Island, after the city's mayor declared the painting "divisive" and before the work of art has even been completed.

The mural, partially funded by Elon Musk, is in the process of being painted on a canvas adorned to the side of a building that is home to a gay nightclub called The Dark Lady, and is meant to honor the memory of Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian immigrant who was brutally murdered last year while riding a light rail train home from work in Charlotte, North Carolina. 

Providence Mayor Brett Smiley in recent days ordered the mural to be removed from the building, according to the local NBC news channel in Providence. The artist who's creating the mural said he feels like he's being censored. 

"At the moment, my freedom of expression feels like it's being stifled," artist Ian Gaudreau told NBC 10. "I wasn't allowed to finish the work. People are judging the work prematurely, in my opinion."

"I do feel censored to some extent, yeah," Gaudreau continued. "People make art for all sorts of reasons and it is a form of speech. In this work, I wasn't intending to spark this much outrage. My intention was to humanize Iryna."

Smiley has sharply criticized the intent behind the mural, as well as the fact that Musk is partially funding it. “The murder of the individual depicted in this mural was a devastating tragedy, but the misguided, isolating intent of those funding murals like this across the country is divisive and does not represent Providence,” Smiley said in a statement obtained by the local ABC channel.

The man running to be the city's next mayor also lashed out against the art project. David Morales, a Democrat state senator, who is running to be the city's next mayor, dismissed the mural as being part of a "right-wing movement" in an interview with NBC 10, and said the yet-to-be-completed painting "does not reflect our values."

Morales' remarks drew swift backlash on social media from conservative influencers as well as members of the U.S. government. Zarutska was killed in August last year while riding on a light rail train. Her brutal murder was captured by a surveillance camera and showed her killer approach her from behind and then stabbing her in the neck. 

Decarlos Brown Jr. seen in security footage attacking Zarutska.

In a matter of minutes, Zarutska died as she bled profusely from the stab wound. Decarlos Brown Jr., 34, has been charged with her murder and is awaiting trial. He had 14 prior arrests before authorities say he fatally attacked Zarustka, a savage killing that ignited a national uproar.