Italian Market Frank Rizzo mural vandalized

A vandal lobbed black paint at a mural of former Philadelphia Mayor Frank Rizzo in the Italian Market over the weekend and sprayed "fascista" in red beneath him.

Police said they received a report on Saturday that the mural at 9th and Montrose streets had been hit and are investigating the incident. A large black splotch of paint hit directly over Rizzo's right eye, and paint splattered along the parking lot that the mural faces. On Sunday afternoon, the occasional passer-by stopped to take a picture of the defaced former mayor and police commissioner.

Rizzo's son, former City Councilman Frank Rizzo Jr., was informed about the vandalism by the Daily News Sunday afternoon.

"Oh, boy, I didn't know. That's terrible," Rizzo said. "It's unfortunate, but Frank Rizzo got knocked down a few times in his life. We'll fix it back up."