Street Mural Honoring Polish ‘Righteous Among the Nations’ Hero Irene Gut Opdyke Unveiled in Los Angeles

A street mural honoring late Polish “Righteous Among the Nations” hero Irene Gut Opdyke was unveiled last Sunday in downtown Los Angeles by Artists 4 Israel, in partnership with the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM).

The 60×15 foot display was spray-painted by local artist Andrew Hem on a wall near the intersection of East 7th Street and Santa Fe Avenue in Los Angeles’ Arts District.

It was the latest installation of Artist 4 Israel’s “Righteous Among the Nations” Global Mural Project, following similar murals in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal; Patras, Greece; and New York City.

As a young Catholic woman during World War II, Irene Gut Opdyke bravely hid 12 Jews in the basement of a villa in occupied Poland where she was employed as a housekeeper for a Nazi officer.

“We’re putting her mural out her so everyone on LA can see, understand, and respect the amazing sacrifices she made,” said Artists 4 Israel CEO Craig Dershowitz.

Sunday’s event was attended by Opdyke’s daughter, Jeannie Opdyke Smith, as well CAM Advisory Board member Elan Carr and rock and roll legend Gene Simmons.

“When you uphold, extol and champion heroes like this, this is how you roll back the scourge [of hatred],” Carr told eJewish Philanthrophy.

Watch a KCAL News report on the mural unveiling here: