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BY Ama Nunoo, 10:10am June 03, 2020,

Murals of Kobe Bryant and Gigi remain untouched amid George Floyd protests

Vanessa Bryant took to social media on Monday and shared several murals of Kobe and Gigi that have not been damaged amid the protests in the U.S.

In the wake of protests across the U.S. following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer, some demonstrators have defaced or destroyed property but some murals and artwork of Kobe Bryant and daughter Gigi have remained untouched, says Vanessa Bryant.

The 38-year-old wife of the late basketball champion took to social media on Monday and shared several murals of Kobe and Gigi that have not been damaged. The murals were installed after the tragic deaths of the former Los Angeles Lakers legend and his daughter in a helicopter crash this year.

Untouched: Vanessa Bryant took to social media on Monday to share over a dozen murals of  her late husband and daughter, Kobe and Gigi, that remained untouched amid country wide protests

Sharing one of the murals that showed Kobe and Gigi after he won a championship, Vanessa wrote “Kobe and Gigi untouched. LA.”

Big smiles: Another mural showed Kobe in his Lakers' jersey with Gigi smiling behind him

Alongside another that showed Gigi on her dad’s shoulders, she wrote: “Kobe and Gigi mural saved, LA.”

LA love: 'Kobe and Gigi mural saved, LA,' she wrote alongside a smaller one with Gigi on the basketball legends shoulders

She further noted how a mural of Kobe and 17-year-old daughter Natalia had been “saved” from defacing.

With first born: Alongside the nearly dozen artworks of Kobe and Gig she shared, there were also a few that featured the couple's oldest daughter Natalia

Over 9,000 people have been arrested amid protests that began last week after the death of Floyd. The 46-year-old died after white police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for several minutes as he yelled: “I can’t breathe.”

Reports said the officers responded to a call from a grocery store that claimed Floyd had used a forged cheque. His death, however, is just one example of the ongoing systemic racism in America where black people find themselves being killed during encounters with white police officers.

kobe bryant vanessa bryant.JPG

Vanessa and Kobe Bryant. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok

Days before sharing the untouched murals of her husband Kobe, Vanessa spoke out about the ongoing protest following Floyd’s death. She posted an image of Kobe wearing a black T-shirt that included the phrase “I can’t breathe,” which is what Floyd said moments before he died.

Vanessa Bryant post about George Floyd protests shows Kobe wearing ...

“My husband wore this shirt years ago and yet here we are again.💔#ICANTBREATHE,” Vanessa wrote on Sunday, May 31. “Life is so fragile. Life is so unpredictable. Life is too short. Let’s share and embrace the beautiful qualities and similarities we all share as people.”

“Drive out hate. Teach respect and love for all at home and school. Spread LOVE. Fight for change- register to VOTE. Do not use innocent lives lost as an excuse to loot. BE AN EXAMPLE OF THE CHANGE WE WANT TO SEE. #BLACKLIVESMATTER ❤️.”

Last Edited by:Ama Nunoo Updated: February 4, 2021

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