Duo caught on video painting over Black Lives Matter mural in Martinez are now charged with burglary in new case – San Francisco Chronicle

David R. Nelson, 54, and Nicole C. Anderson, 43, were charged Jan. 12 with second-degree burglary after they illegally entered an unoccupied house in Walnut Creek with the intent to commit larceny, prosecutors said. Nelson was also charged with two counts of possessing methamphetamine for sale, according to a complaint filed in Contra Costa County Superior Court.

Nelson was allegedly in possession of unspecified amounts of methamphetamine on Dec. 5 and Dec. 22, prosecutors said. Additional details about the alleged crimes were not immediately available.

Nelson and Anderson received national attention two years ago when they were recorded painting over a Black Lives Matter mural in front of the Wakefield Taylor Courthouse in Martinez on July 4, 2020. The video, which went viral, showed Anderson pouring black paint on the yellow letters that had been painted on the street during that summers reckoning over racial justice and police violence following the murder of George Floyd.

In the video, Nelson said that the narrative of police brutality, the narrative of oppression, the narrative of racism, its a lie, and that no one wants Black Lives Matter here. Both Nelson and Anderson appear to be white.

The temporary Black Lives Matter mural had been approved by the city of Martinez as a way of sending the message that African Americans and other people of color are equal members of our community, Martinez Mayor Rob Schroder said at the time.

Days after they painted over the mural, Nelson and Anderson were charged with violating another persons civil rights, vandalism and possession of tools to commit vandalism.

Nelson and Anderson could not immediately be reached for comment. They are scheduled to be arraigned on the burglary and drug charges Monday morning.

Andy Picon is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: andy.picon@hearst.com Twitter: @andpicon

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Duo caught on video painting over Black Lives Matter mural in Martinez are now charged with burglary in new case - San Francisco Chronicle