LA Metro has come forward to take responsibility for the whitewashing of Judy Baca’s 1984 mural, 'Hitting the Wall'. One of their contractors painted over the mural after Caltrans gave them access to this area as part of a ‘highway beautification’ and graffiti abatement program. The Social and Public Art Resource Center (SPARC), a public art non-profit organization co-founded by Baca in 1976, has scheduled a meeting with Metro, Caltrans, and Speaker of the California State Assembly Anthony Rendon on May 10th so that we can work together to save this historic and treasured mural.

We need your help to make sure that this abuse of artists rights does not happen again to this or any other public artwork in Los Angeles and the State of California. Sign this petition to show that you stand with public artists. We will be bringing these signatures to the meeting on May 10th to demonstrate public support to save this iconic mural. Your participation is key in urging local and state officials to do the following:

1. Work with SPARC to create local and state policies to prevent graffiti abatement programs from destroying public artworks.

2. Notify artists promptly if their artwork is vandalized and work with them to conserve their artworks.

3. Urge Caltrans and the LA Metro to become active partners in preserving public by contracting SPARC for the damages assessment and repairs of “Hitting the Wall’ and reimburse SPARC for the costs of past restorations.