'What's the Difference?' Man Defends Writing 'White Lives Matter' on Richmond Arthur Ashe Statue

A man accused of leaving graffiti stating “White Lives Matter” on the Arthur Ashe statue on Monument Avenue in Richmond, Virginia, defended the action to onlookers on June 17.

In footage captured by local resident Elizabeth Milburn, the man in question can be seen walking away from the monument as he is approached by a number of people.

The monument in question, dedicated to the late African-American tennis great, was defaced with the phrases “White Lives Matter” and “Black Lives Matter,” and has since become the subject of a police investigation, the Associated Press reported.

However, as a number of people began cleaning the words “White Lives Matter” from the monument, the man in question returned to the scene and began cleaning words and letters associated with the Black Lives Matter movement from the monument.

In the footage, the anonymous man can be heard asking, “Why is it okay to spray-paint on this statue ‘Black Lives Matter’ and not ‘White Lives Matter’? What’s the difference?”

He added, “I’m not a racist. I just don’t agree with desecrating our property.” Credit: Elizabeth Milburn via Storyful