Black Lives Matter protest artist arrested on criminal mischief charge

Beth Wittenberg, inset, and her protest artwork which had been painted on a Spaulding overpass in Rochester. (Facebook photo; mugshot courtesy Rochester Police)

ROCHESTER - A Rochester woman who spray painted a "Black Lives Matter" mural on a Rochester overpass earlier this month has been charged with one count of misdemeanor vandalism.

Beth Wittenberg, 50, of 6 Lyons St., turned herself into Rochester Police after a warrant was issued on Wednesday.

Rochester Police first responded to a report of vandalism on the Blackwater Road overpass of the Spaulding on July 18.

It was reported someone had painted a large mural on the wall, which is state property.

The mural had shown a backward American flag with split black hearts instead of stars. On gray cement to the right of the flag a message read hashtag "Black Lives Matter."

Ironically, Wittenberg's mural, itself, was vandalized soon after it was completed with someone spray painting over the word "Black" so that the mural read "Lives Matter."

Workers painted over the mural several days ago.

Wittenberg was charged with criminal mischief, a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to a year in county jail.

She was released on personal recognizance bail pending an arraignment next month in Rochester District Court.