Tattoo Parlor Will Cover Up Racist And Gang-Related Artwork For Free

Credit: VICE

Unlike one’s belief systems, tattoos are permanent and are unable to evolve. It’s for this reasons that a tattoo shop in Maryland has offered to cover up peoples’ racist and gang-related tattoos for free.

Vice reports that Southside Tattoo, located in Brooklyn Park, announced the generous offer on Facebook. In just two weeks, the post has been shared 26k times and ‘liked’ 27k times. Because of this, the parlor is booked for the next six months solid.

All the tattoo shop ask in exchange for the pro bono service is to “pay it forward” by doing something kind for someone else. Commented Elizabeth Cutlip, the owner of Southside Tattoo:

“Sometimes people make bad choices, and sometimes people change. We believe that there is enough hate in this world and we want to make a difference.”

Elizabeth and her husband, David, have even launched a GoFundMe page to support a new foundation called Random Acts of Tattoo. It’s their ambition to raise $60,000 for financing a worldwide nonprofit collective of tattoo artists who can provide the same service to those who are ashamed to wear art inked on in the past. All funds will reportedly cover travel and supplies.

Sometimes people make bad choices, and sometimes people change. We, at Southside Tattoo would like to make a difference….

Posted by Southside Tattoo on Monday, January 16, 2017

In David’s first free session, he covered up a man’s SWP tattoo, which stands for “Supreme White Power,” with Dia de los Muertos art. Since then, the artist has helped cover up a number of white supremacist tattoos. This is heartening, considering the U.S. has become incredibly divided in the few weeks since Donald Trump took office. 

“Our goal was to help ex gang members in Baltimore cover their gang and racist tattoos so that they could get rid of the constant reminder of a past life,” says Elizabeth. “We have gotten hundreds of inquiries about work, some near, some far. We are truly humbled to have the ability to heal others through our art… no strings attached.”

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