George Floyd's New York statue defaced, marked with neo-Nazi group's name

Amid the celebration after the sentencing of ex-police officer Derek Chauvin to 22 ½ years in prison for the murder of George Floyd, comes a piece of grim news.

In New York, less than a week after its unveiling, a statue of Floyd was found defaced and marked with a neo-Nazi group’s name.

Also read | Chauvin gets 22 1/2 years in prison for George Floyd's death

The statue was found covered in paint, with an inscription of the American far-right cell “Patriot Front”, a group that is defined as a “white nationalist hate group’ by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

The group is also believed to be behind another similar defacing in New Jersey. There, a bronze statue of Floyd in front of the town hall of Newark was covered in paint.

A video released by authorities showed four individuals participating in this vandalism. One of them can be seen holding a paint spray can.

New York police said that they are investigating the attack on the monument.

New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo tweeted, "I'm going to be absolutely clear with the neo-Nazi group that did this: get out of our state," adding that special agents from the Hate Crimes Task Force would offer to help the investigation.

In a Twitter post, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio commented "We will bring these cowards to justice".

This six-foot wooden statue was made by artist Chris Carnabuci and was inaugurated as a part of Juneteenth (June 19th) celebrations in the presence of George Floyd’s brother, Terrence Floyd.