By David Greene
BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- Local elected officials, members of the community and a group of local graffiti artists paid homage to Sonia Sotomayor. The U.S. Supreme Court Justice returned to the Soundview community where she grew up for the unveiling of a new mural dedicated to those from the area who have found success in their respective fields.
The mural, unveiled at the corner of Morrison Avenue and Westchester Avenue on Sunday, August 16, features Justice Sotomayor as well as rap artists KRS One and Afrika Bambaataa.
The colorful mural across the street from the new Morrison Plaza, also features a dee-jay with a turntable and the elevated Number 6 Train.
Community Board 9 District Manager William Rivera applied for the $2,200 beautification grant provided by the National Association of Realtors after local graffiti artists Tats Cru of Hunts Point and the FX Crew, who got their start on Webster Avenue, offered to paint the inspiring mural for free.
Rivera estimates the value of the donated work at $20,000 and the $2,200 grant covered the cost of the paint supplies and the scaffold needed to paint the mural, which took two days to complete.
In introducing Sotomayor, Congressman Jose Serrano stated, "You became a symbol to everything we aspired to do. You became a symbol for everything we wanted to be. You became a symbol for everything we could be."
Visibly humbled by the larger than life mural, Sotomayor responded, "Never in my life did I imagine that this community would honor me with having a mural, this is what a community board should be, so I'm very grateful."
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