Artist James Crespinel and his son Nick. Thanks to Converge Media for providing this picture to CHS.

The vandalized mural of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. has been fully restored and is ready, again, to “do what it’s supposed to do” at the Central District corner of MLK Way and E Cherry.

Artist James Crespinel returned to restore his work that has been part of the corner across three decades before it was marred with spray painted vandalism during this year’s MLK Day holiday and spoke with Converge Media about the importance of the mural as he put the finishing touches on the wall after ten days of work.

What a #FeelGoodFriday the Martin Luther King Jr. mural in the #CentralDistrict that was vandalized last month on MLK Day was restored this afternoon. We caught up with artist James Crespinel who painted the original mural 26 years ago as he put on the finishing touches. pic.twitter.com/D9yLBM0JSF

— Omari Salisbury (@Omarisal) February 12, 2022

CHS reported here on the damage and Central District-born Mayor Bruce Harrell’s promise of help in restoring the work on the side of the building home to Fat’s Chicken and Waffles.

The MLK Day celebration in the Central District, meanwhile, included a rally and march in support of education, voting rights, and essential workers.

The MLK mural was previously overhauled in 2015 with the opening of Fat’s in the building that had been the longtime home of Catfish Corner. That year, Crespinel cleaned up his popular work showing MLK in thought and his words: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”

Crespinel says the 2022 MLK Day damage was the first time the painting has been touched by graffiti or vandalism in its 26 years.

“This is the most powerful thing I’ve ever done,” Crespinel told Converge about the work.

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