Nelsonville residents are divided over a political and profane mural
By: Joshua Hoerner
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NELSONVILLE, Ohio (WOUB) — An expletive-filled political mural has stirred up strong feelings across the city of Nelsonville.
The mural features a crown with a slash through it and the words “No kings.” Another part of the mural says “We are watching Israel commit genocide!” and below that says “F*ck fascists,” “F*ck Nazis” and “F*** Trump,” with the expletive spelled out for that last one.
Campbell said his message with the mural is to wake up and show empathy toward others.
“Step outside of your inner circle,” Campbell said. “We’re all human beings. It doesn’t matter if you’re Black, white, brown or Asian. Show some empathy and be human.”
This isn’t the first mural Campbell has painted on his property. His previous mural was in response to the Supreme Court overturning Roe vs. Wade.
“The thought process on the last mural was to be simple and straight to the point while kind of being behind a veil,” Campbell said. “This mural is a lot more crass and violent because that’s what we need right now.”
The mural came up at a recent Nelsonville City Council meeting. City Manager Fred Holmes spoke during the public comment period and said he was doing so as a private citizen, not a city official.
“The sign in the lower part of the town, which I think everyone knows what I’m talking about, I find highly offensive,” Holmes said.
Holmes said he is offended by the language on the mural.
“I do not use this with my grandkids, my great grandkids and my children,” Holmes said. “We don’t use that kind of language in our family.
A post on a Facebook page based in Nelsonville about the mural has drawn over 230 comments, both in support and opposition.
Councilmember Cameron Peck was one of the commentators and said the mural is Campbell’s First Amendment right.
“The people who own that house have the right to express their freedom of speech in any way they find appropriate,” Peck told WOUB. “I do not necessarily think that it was a great decision to paint it. What I am saying is that they have the right to.”