Alleged Vandal Arrested for Defacing Robert Gould Shaw Memorial

A 38-year-old Quincy woman was arrested last Tuesday after she allegedly vandalized the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial with yellow paint, Boston Police said.

Rosemine Occean was charged with willful and malicious destruction of city property.

At about 4:10 p.m. on July 31, Area A-1 officers responded to a call for a person vandalizing a statue in the area of 25 Beacon St. Police confirmed damage to the memorial upon their arrival and located the suspect, who was being detained at the scene by Park Rangers. Officers observed yellow paint on the suspect’s face, hands and clothing and seized a can of yellow paint as evidence.

The memorial, which is located across the street from the Massachusetts State House, is dedicated to Col. Robert Gould Shaw and the Massachusetts 54th Regiment, the first unit in the Union Army comprised of free African American soldiers in the Civil War. The bronze statue is the work of famous sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens.

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