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How the owners of Trap Fusion turned a vandalism into a community message

Owner Jason Gardner said he hopes criminals get the message and use better judgment before breaking into his place or any other business again.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The owners of Trap Fusion found a way to turn a negative into a positive after they were broken into.

Thieves have broken into the Trap Fusion restaurant in Whitehaven a half dozen times. This time, the owners were left with a large broken window to fix, so they covered the area with a large piece of plywood.

Jade Miller, a Memphis artist, painted the plywood with a mural that speaks to the crime situation so many small business owners can relate to. The mural features a person asking, "Why us?" Text below the person's face reads, "Ain't no love in the heart of the city!"

Credit: ABC24
Credit: ABC24

Owner Jason Gardner said until he can replace the $3,000 glass window, he'll keep the mural. He is even asking local artists to paint the other side.

"'Why us?' It's kind of a play on words of 'why us' as the Black community, 'why us' as a people, as a whole," Gardner said. "So, we just wanted to create something that sent a message."

Gardner said he hopes criminals get the message and use better judgment before breaking into his place or any other business again.

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