There’s a thin line between freedom of speech and defamation.
The walls at Heaven Skate Park are covered with self-expression. And police say people are allowed to spray paint within the park. But when someone in the neighboring office buildings saw the latest addition to Heaven Skate Park off Main Street, police took action.
They arrested Matthew McLaughlin, 28, of Hartford for spray painting a guillotine with blood dripping from an angled blade. Above it in all capital letters reads, “DE-VITALIZE DOWNTOWN.” Officials say he was arrested before finishing the painting but planned to list names of political groups and figures – including Mayor Pedro Segarra.
“People need to have ways to express their distaste with what’s going on,” said downtown resident Danielle Cote. “But at the same time I’m against violence.”
Cote was dining at Salute restaurant in downtown with her friend Kevin Ward, who also lives downtown. Ward said he read about plans for changes to the park earlier in the day.
“I think it’s a little intense, but freedom of speech – go for it,” said Ward, who added that he only finds a problem with political speech if it’s threatening. Police say there was no direct threat to anyone.
“Graffiti is tolerated,” said Lt. Brian Foley with the Hartford Police Department. “But certainly anything that is violent or offensive, they’re going to take action.” McLaughlin has been charged with breach of peace and criminal mischief.
“I also agree with that sort of philosophy of not allowing violent graffiti,” said Cote.
City officials are considering plans to limit graffiti in the park only to two walls. They want to clean up the rest of the graffiti and turn it into an official skate park.
But residents, like Kevin Ward, say they don’t see a problem with the way it is right now. “If that’s an outlet for ppl to express themselves and they keep it to the park and they’re not tagging buildings, that’s a great spot for it,” he said.
Police say the guillotine will be evaluated Wednesday by downtown officials, and they’ll decide how to go about removing it.
