Artist Raises Over $20,000 to Replace Vandalized Breonna Taylor Bust

Police in Oakland, California, are investigating an act of vandalism that left a bust of the late Breonna Taylor severely damaged.

Leo Carson, the sculptor of the statue, called the vandalism of the statue "an act of racist aggression."

"After spending months creating this artwork it was incredible to see the community and neighbors taking photos and enjoying it. Now I am devastated and enraged to see it in pieces," Carson said. "This was an act of racist aggression and we need to show them we will not stand for it."

Carson now plans to rebuild the bust that memorializes Taylor. He began a GoFundMe page to raise money - not only to remake the statue, but to do so out of a stronger material: bronze.

As of Tuesday, Carson's GoFundMe page had raised over $20,000, with more donations being given by the minute. He says any funds above the cost of rebuilding the bust will be donated to Taylor's family.

Taylor was a 26-year-old EMT who was shot and killed in her Kentucky home when officers executed a no-knock search warrant in March of 2020.

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