Burlington police charged a member of the now-defunct psychedelic-pop band Madaila with twice vandalizing the controversial “Everyone Loves a Parade!” mural in October.
Eric Maier, 32, faces a felony and misdemeanor charge of unlawful mischief; he’s due in court next week. Cops also cited Margaux Higgins, 21, as an accessory to the crime.
Police believe Maier spray painted the word “Colonizers” across the public art on October 19. Then on Halloween, police say, Maier used a solvent to remove the faces of the white people leading the parade depicted in the 124-foot-long mural and spray painted pink dollar signs in their places.
“Damage is estimated at $5,000 to $10,000 and may not be repairable,” Burlington police Det. Thomas Chenette wrote in a press release Friday announcing the arrests.
The artwork has been controversial in Burlington because it predominantly represents white people. It was intended to commemorate Samuel de Champlain’s “discovery” of Lake Champlain and some of the people who shaped Vermont’s history over the subsequent 400 years. Critics say the massive piece of public art, just off Church Street on Leahy Way, fails to represent the legacy of Native Americans.
Maier has criticized the piece and posted about it on Facebook, including the day after the most recent vandalism, when he referred to it as a “(basic, genocidey) mural.” In his November 1 post, Maier included a photo that he said a friend had taken “last night” that shows the defacement and pink dollar signs. He also posted a photo of a tarp covering the vandalism and mentioned Margaux, who “pointed out” that “they were literally de-faced.” Maier included a thumbs-up emoji.
“Seeing as the faces are now gone forever, one wonders what the city’s long-term solution will be,” Maier wrote.
Maier also posted about the October 19 vandalism, of which he had taken a photo.
“When you’re in the right place at the right time and your photo makes the news,” he wrote, along with a link to a My NBC5 story about the incident.
Police said a tip lead them to Maier.
“He posted photos of the damage on Facebook, reportedly to gain notoriety and promote his beliefs,” Chenette wrote in his press release. “Multiple search warrants obtained by law enforcement for social media, phone accounts, and a residence on S. Willard Street in Burlington, led to the identification and arrest of Maier as the vandal and Margaux Higgins of Burlington as an accessory to the crime.”
Police arrested Higgins on November 7; Maier was arrested Wednesday.
Reached by phone Friday, Maier declined to comment on his arrest or the vandalism. He’s also been vocal about other Queen City issues, including the impending basing of the F-35 fighter jets at Burlington International Airport.
“People have had enough of putting the interests of rich white dudes over average citizens,” Maier said at a city council meeting in January.
Maier’s band, a quintet that enjoyed a meteoric rise through the last several years, is on an indefinite hiatus after playing its last show on November 2 — two days after the most serious mural vandalism.
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Oh good. In his role of great white savior Mr. Maier committed a crime on behalf of people who never asked him to, were never consulted, and are perfectly capable of defining and seeking redress for their own grievances. What a charmer.
He’s definitely NOT in The Medallions.
“Maiers band, a quintet that enjoyed a meteoric rise through the last several years”
Seriously ? Meteoric ? Is this sarcasm ? Perhaps this was just a cheap publicity stunt for a never-was band .
Cashman wrongly assumes Maiers acted “on behalf of people who never asked him to.” I think Maier acted out of his own conscience, as a person who accepts responsibility for crimes against Native Americans and people of color represented by the parade of white privilege depicted in the mural. If he acted on behalf of anyone, it would be white people in Burlington who are grateful to, and will stand by, Maiers and Higgins.
” . . . crimes against Native Americans and people of color represented by the parade of white privilege depicted in the mural.”
Oh for god’s sake. Get over yourselves. Abenaki Chief Don Stevens condemned this stupid act. In vandalizing public property you act for no one but your self-righteous selves.
What a douche. Throw his ass in jail. Oops, I forgot where we live……sit him in a circle, talk about feelings and get a fake apology out of him. That’ll show him !
Rich Ard Madaila was awesome. So before you open your mouth about something you dont know about look in the mirror. Realize you are spelling your name wrong. Realize you are wearing what looks to be some sort of rented Tuxedo in your picture. Go to a tailor. Listen to good music. Brush your teeth. Put on some deodorant. You stink.
Lea,
Your excuse being he did it on behalf of yet another group of people who didn’t ask him to, were not consulted, and are also perfectly capable of defining and seeking redress for their own grievances? I don’t see that as any better.
He reminds of that Midd Kid who yanked a bunch of American flags out of the ground and threw them in the trash because she thought Middlebury campus was an Indian burial ground and the “colonizers” had defiled their land with their flags. Then the Abenaki said “nope, not on our behalf, it’s not a burial ground, not a defilement, and we are actually proud of our service members”.
The worst kind of privilege is those who think their personal opinions are more important than our common laws, rights, and obligations.
Cashman, you miss the point. Many people in Burlington asked the Church Street Marketplace Commission and City Council to replace the mural. Maier acted out of his own conscience, but he is aligned with people who recognize the damage a display of white supremacy does to all people, of every race and ethnicity, especially children. A significant number of residents stand with Maier and Higgins.
No, Cashman does NOT miss your misguided point.
We’re talking about a handful of self-righteous bratty adult children who make a questionable claim that a mural depicts “white supremacy.” And when they don’t get their way immediately, they think it’s ok to take matters into their own hands and destroy public property.
No points missed here Lea.
“He did it for the Indians”
He didn’t do it for the Indians
“He did it for the white folks”
He didn’t do it for the white folks
“He did it for some undefined limited subset of people within an undefined geographic radius who may or may not exist”
It sounds like they could all meet for a BBQ and you wouldn’t need more than one bag of hot dog buns with a few left over.
Beyond the why, however, let’s discuss what he actually did. A while a ago some concerned citizens expressed concerns over the mural. I personally find their concerns silly and unworthy of a thinking adult, but that is just my opinion. This issue went to the city council and it was agreed the mural would be moved in the upcoming years. Again, I think that decision was ridiculous, but it was a community decision. So he, and you, got what you wanted but that wasn’t good enough. So this vandal decides that his juvenile outrage is more important than equitable governance and democracy, so he takes it into his own hands to destroy community property. He’s the kid who doesn’t win at checkers so he flips the board over and pouts. Hopefully he will mature while serving felony time.
Five will get you ten that he will never be convicted of any felony charge, but he will have to sit down for a lecture and be accused of being a bad boy. From his picture, (do I detect a smirk?), this is a guy that should never own a gun. He’s not conceited, he’s convinced.
This is what happens when you have a president that allows and promotes such acts as burning and looting cities. After BLM was allowed and encouraged to burn and loot the city of Baltimore while chanting death to the pigs, obama invited them to the white house for a special recognition event to shake their hands and tell them that they did a better job than he could have. This has created a whole new class of emboldened misfits bent on turning anything and everything into a race issue or some other division as outlined by the obamaites. Lock him up and throw away the key!
What an idiot. Doesn’t get his way, wait just like a little brat!!!!!! The problem with his side is they never wish to hear any other opinion. It’s always one sided.
No, its not just this one misguided politically correct fool. Both the Left AND the Right dont want to hear anyone elses opinions.
America needs to reject extremism on BOTH sides. People need to recognize when theyre being self righteous and intolerant in the name of their political briefs. We must reject running over anti-Nazi protesters. And likewise we must reject pulling flags out of the ground at Middlebury. We must reject not letting speakers speak! And we must reject a Presidents constant attacks on the free press. We must go back to a time when all Americans recognized and understood and agreed that you cant take the law into your own hands because you think youre right.
I think it would be great if the artist sues him for a couple million for destroying his artwork.