Defaced MLK Statue Exposes Longstanding Racial Tensions in Long Beach - Podcast

While some residents believe the message was issued by a local Mexican gang as a threat toward a specific Black gang, others say the act goes far beyond gang rivalry. They view it as a racially motivated attack on the Black community as a whole and on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The statue, located at 1950 Lemon Ave., in the Martin Luther King Jr. Park, has long served as a symbolic space for community gatherings, celebrations, and calls for justice. Its defacement has reopened conversations about the deep and often unspoken racial tensions between some members of the Latino and Black communities in Long Beach.

Community leaders point to a history of anti-Blackness within parts of the Latino community — an issue that has often been overshadowed by calls for solidarity, particularly during times of heightened immigration enforcement and ICE raids.

"You can’t call for unity while ignoring racism,” said one local resident who wished to remain anonymous. “This isn’t just about a statue. It’s about accountability, and about healing what’s been broken.”

The incident underscores a broader challenge that mirrors issues across the country: solidarity without honest reckoning is fragile. As Long Beach confronts this latest act of hate, community members are calling for open dialogue, accountability, and collective action to address longstanding racial divides.

The City of Long Beach responded quickly and the graffiti has since been removed. No suspects have been named in the vandalism.