The Levitt Shell, a Depression-era landmark in Overton Park, and Graceland in Whitehaven were targeted overnight Tuesday, Sept. 1, by vandals painting Black Lives Matter, defund the police and obscene messages on the two properties.

The graffiti was discovered Tuesday morning when employees of the two music landmarks came to work. Spokesman David Beckwith said “Graceland has no comment,” about the vandalism on the sidewalk and the wall in front of the late Elvis Presley’s home.

Police reform discussion continues at City Council

Officials at the Levitt Shell have filed a police report. There are no cameras onsite, although plans were already in place to install them in the coming weeks, said Natalie Wilson, the Shell’s executive director.

“What’s breaking my heart the most is we have a heartbroken community. We have a city that’s so sad. It is the pain that is expressed. It just broke my heart,” Wilson said.

The city of Memphis has removed the graffiti from the stage, but the outdoor entertainment venue must repaint the band shell. Because the venue is a historic landmark, there are specific guidelines to follow and, although they don’t have a price, it will expensive, she said.

The coronavirus pandemic has shuttered entertainment venues like the Levitt Shell, which is run by a nonprofit organization and is seeing its worst financial year ever, Wilson said.

“We’re looking at around a $700,000 shortfall right now. That’s devastating for a small nonprofit,” she said.

The messages spray painted included BLM, Defund MPD, End Homelessness, Give our City Back, Eat the Rich, and obscenities about Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland and President Donald Trump.

“I couldn’t breathe when I saw it,” Wilson said.

Some on social media have questioned if the work was actually done by BLM activists.

Tennessee State Rep. London Lamar, D-Memphis, posted that theory on Twitter.

“I bet my money that those tagging property in Memphis with BLM and Defund Police are individuals trying to make this movement look bad! Don’t believe that it’s the movement! It’s not!,” the tweet said.

It should be concerning if people are more bothered by this act rather than why it occurred, said social justice activist Hunter Demster.

“I’d say that if people are more uncomfortable with people expressing their anger, no matter what that looks like — graffiti or however they wish to protest — and not the systemic problems going on, they might want to reevaluate their morality,” Demster said. “I think in light of the killings by police, in light of the devastating poverty, in light of everything we’re facing, people’s expressions are going to come out one way or another. And you’re not always going to agree with it. But I think at the end of the day, it’s time to listen to those voices.”

Strickland to name police reform commission in second phase of ‘reimagining’ police

He believes he knows who will be bothered.

“You’re going to see more white moderates angry about that graffiti than they are when a young Black man gets shot in his back. And in some sense, I wouldn’t doubt if that wasn’t the intent – to expose that,” Demster said.

This is the sixth time the Levitt Shell has been vandalized since late 2019, Wilson said.

The Levitt Shell was built in 1936 during the Great Depression by the Works Progress Administration. The outdoor entertainment space is where Presley performed in 1954.

Over the decades, it fell into disrepair.

According to the venue’s website the Shell partnered with the city and the Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation in 2005 and was renamed the Levitt Shell in Overton Park. After renovations were completed, it reopened in 2008 as site for free music.

Mistaken-identity shooting sparks protest

Levitt Shell leadership does not take a position on political issues, Wilson said.

“We understand our community is hurting, and we hurt with our community, there is no doubt. However, the stage and the Levitt Shell can’t be used as a platform. That doesn’t help us heal by damaging our historic landmarks,” she said.

Also, it’s sad that it happened on 901 Day, which celebrates all things Memphis, Wilson said.

The pandemic left all of the city’s venues dark.

But between 7 p.m. and 12 a.m. Tuesday, the Levitt Shell and other independent venues will be illuminated in red to recognize their importance to the community and their need to survive, Wilson said. 

Live events are scheduled to return to the Levitt Shell in 2021, she said.