Hillsborough County leaders are researching a plan to create a diversity mural on the wall behind the controversial Confederate Monument located at the old county courthouse.

  • Mural supported by Commissioner Victor Crist
  • Diversity mural could cost $100,000 - $250,000
  • Scope, budget for project now being assessed
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Commissioner Victor Crist, who voted to keep the monument at the old county courthouse, said that vote was a tough decision.  He suggested the mural as a way to help the community to heal from the battle over the controversial memorial.
 
"Whether we kept [the monument] or removed it or modified it, there were a sizable number of people who were still going to be upset and angry, so how do you deal with that? You look for a way to build consensus to strike a compromise that we can build and improve and move forward from," Crist said.
 
Crist envisioned for the 75 foot long wall behind the monument a three-dimensional colorful work of art that showcased faces of America. He called the potential mural "United We Stand."
 
"All ethnicities, all ages, all religions and faiths, beliefs, sexual orientations," Crist said. "We don't have anything in Hillsborough County representing the beautiful diversity we have here."
 
He believes the project would cost between $100,000 - $250,000 thousand to create.
 
"There are a variety of sources that could fund this that would not have to be funded with taxpayer dollars," Crist said.
 
Crist went on to say he would like to see a multiracial team of local artists work on the mural.
 
The rest of the county's commissioners signed off on the idea Wednesday. The County Administrator is now looking at the scope, timeline and budget for the potential project.