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From Boston to Paris, Art Keeps Disappearing into the Dark

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — The Louvre’s director has been called before lawmakers to explain how it happened. Security, already under criticism, failed at the worst possible moment. In France, where art is faith, this robbery has become a national wound.

Published

9 months ago

October 21, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

It was just after dawn in Paris when the sirens began to wail through the narrow streets surrounding the Louvre. Soldiers with rifles guarded the courtyard, tourists were turned away, and the great glass pyramid stood silent under a gray sky. Inside, the world’s most visited museum had been stripped of eight priceless jewels once belonging to Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie. The thieves were gone, and the crime had already become legend. Police say it was fast and flawless. Less than seven minutes from entry to escape. Security footage shows figures dressed in black, moving with precision. They knew what they wanted and how to take it. When the alarms rang, it was already too late. The jewels, pieces of France’s royal past, vanished into the dark.

Experts say the thieves may be caught, but the jewels will not return. Once the gold is melted and the diamonds cut, there is no trail left to follow. “Once they’re gone, they’re gone,” said Christopher Marinello of Art Recovery International. For investigators, time is the enemy. For thieves, time is the perfect disguise. The Louvre’s director has been called before lawmakers to explain how it happened. Security, already under criticism, failed at the worst possible moment. In France, where art is faith, this robbery has become a national wound. Half a world away, Myles Connor watched the story unfold. Once the most famous art thief in America, Connor stole a Rembrandt from a Boston museum in the 1980s. When asked about the Louvre heist, he said it was “damn close” to the most expensive museum theft in history. “They will be vilified,” he said, “but they’ll also be remembered.” The Louvre is not the first to fall.

In 1990, two men dressed as police officers walked into Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. They overpowered the guards and stripped thirteen paintings from the walls. Rembrandt. Vermeer. Degas. Manet. Gone without a trace. The museum’s founder had written that nothing inside could ever be moved, so the empty frames remain, haunting the gallery like ghosts. More than thirty years later, the paintings never returned.

In 1911, the Mona Lisa disappeared from the same Paris museum that now mourns its jewels. She was not yet famous then. When she vanished, the world learned her name. Two years later, police found her in Florence, hidden by an Italian handyman who claimed he wanted to bring her home. When she was returned to the Louvre, she was no longer just a painting. She was a legend.

In 1972, three masked men descended through a skylight into the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. They tied up the guards and escaped with 18 paintings and dozens of jewels, including a Rembrandt worth $1 million. No one was ever caught. None of the art has been found. Some say the Montreal mafia helped hide the works in private collections. Others believe they were destroyed.

In 2010, Paris faced another betrayal from within. A man known as “Spider-Man” climbed the walls of the Musée d’Art Moderne and slipped inside. He took works by Picasso, Matisse, and Modigliani, choosing his prizes with an artist’s eye. When he was arrested, the paintings were gone. Some believe he destroyed them rather than let them be recovered. He said he stole them for beauty. Beauty, he learned, does not survive the dark.

And in Scranton, Pennsylvania, a different kind of art theft unfolded. It was not the work of masked strangers in the night, but of a crew that operated for more than twenty years. Their crimes stretched across states and generations. The Everhart Museum in Scranton lost two priceless works in 2005, “Le Grande Passion” by Andy Warhol and “Springs Winter” by Jackson Pollock, stolen as part of a conspiracy that reached from small towns to national landmarks. Nine men were involved. They took art, trophies, jewelry, and history. They also stole a Christy Matthewson jersey, Yogi Berra’s World Series rings, and Roger Maris’s MVP trophy. They stripped museums bare, melted down the gold, and sold what was left for a fraction of its worth. One of them, Nicholas Dombek, even burned “Upper Hudson” by Jasper Cropsey, a painting worth half a million dollars, to keep it from being used as evidence. The smoke from that fire carried more than the scent of oil and canvas. It carried the loss of American history.

Investigators called it a twenty-year trail of destruction. The Everhart’s stolen works remain missing, ghosts of American art that vanished not for beauty, but for greed. When the thieves were finally caught in 2025, after decades of evasion, they were convicted in federal court. Their sentences may bring justice, but not restoration. The ashes of “Upper Hudson” cannot be pieced back together. The Warhol and the Pollock may never be seen again.

Now the Louvre stands scarred again, its name added to a list of crimes that span centuries. Investigators search every corner of Paris, but the city knows how easily beauty disappears. The jewels of Napoleon’s court may already be gone, scattered into fragments, melted into history. Every thief tells the same story. Desire and genius intertwined. Each painting, each jewel, pulled from the hands of time by someone who wanted to possess the unattainable. The Louvre heist is only the newest verse in that song.

Somewhere tonight, gold glows beneath the wrong light. Somewhere, a thief admires the sparkle of what can never again belong to the world. And somewhere else, an empty frame waits in silence, holding the shape of what was lost.

Stacy M. Brown

Posts by Stacy M. Brown

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Jovita Moore Mural Still Has Not Been Repainted in Grant Park

ATLANTA VOICE — A mural depicting late journalist Jovita Moore, painted on the exterior wall of a building now occupied by Bellwood Coffee in Grant Park, was painted over in April. Moore passed away in 2021 after decades of working in Atlanta television news. Bellwood Coffee owners stated in May they were unaware of Moore’s identity or significance to the community before painting over the mural.
The post Jovita Moore Mural Still Has Not Been Repainted in Grant Park appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 weeks ago

July 8, 2026

Oakland Post

At the corner of Boulevard, SE. and Rosalia St., SE., directly across the street from an abandoned home and a Methodist Church, is Bellwood Coffee. One of hundreds of coffee shops in Atlanta, this place of business would not be worth a solitary discussion if not for the way its exterior walls are currently painted. There was once a mural depicting the late Jovita Moore, a beloved journalist who worked in Atlanta for decades. Moore, who passed away in 2021, mentored many of the people you see on television newscasts today. Though her legacy will never be forgotten, it was the mural of her image that was erased.

In April, members of the Grant Park community voiced their disgust at the mural, which graced a side wall of the building now occupied by Bellwood Coffee’s Grant Park location, before it was painted over. In its place are the words “Bellwood Coffee; Cocktails, Biscuits, Dry Goods, Air Conditioning. *Heat Too”. In May, the business owners responded to the community pushback on social media by acknowledging they did not know who Moore was before painting over her image. And later admitted that they did not attempt to find out what she meant to the community.

On May 21, the Bellwood Coffee Instagram account had a post about being “in close contact with Jovita’s family and are actively working on next steps in this process.” Two months later, the mural has not been replaced, repainted, or repositioned on the property. Nothing has been done. Black history is often erased, most recently by the current Presidential administration, but oftentimes on a smaller, quieter scale. The mural was originally painted by muralist Tommy Bronx, who had been in contact with the business owners about repainting it. As of July 6, Tommy Bronx had responded to a direct message via his Instagram account from The Atlanta Voice about any updates on his plans to repaint the mural.

“We’re currently working on it. You should see some movement in the weeks to come,” he wrote in a response.

On Monday, July 6, the business had several patrons inside and was running smoothly with three employees manning the counter. The Atlanta Voice dropped by Bellwood Coffee to get a look at the exterior wall where the mural once stood as a memorial to a journalist and mother who lost her life to brain cancer at the young age of 54. Moore’s image added some color to the block. The grey wall in its place does not.

A direct message was sent to the Bellwood Coffee Instagram account, and there hasn’t been a response as of 7 p.m. on Monday.

The post Jovita Moore Mural Still Has Not Been Repainted in Grant Park appeared first on The Atlanta Voice.

Based on reporting by Atlanta Voice.

The post Jovita Moore Mural Still Has Not Been Repainted in Grant Park appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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‘Proud to Hang Her from a Tree’: Man Arrested for Threatening Black Senator

ATLANTA DAILY WORLD — A New York man faces felony hate crime charges for allegedly posting a threat against New York State Senator Lea Webb. James A. Crosby, 49, of Binghamton, was arrested by New York State Police after investigators determined he posted a threatening comment on a social media news post about a Juneteenth celebration.
The post ‘Proud to Hang Her from a Tree’: Man Arrested for Threatening Black Senator appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 weeks ago

July 8, 2026

Oakland Post

A New York man is facing felony hate crime charges after allegedly posting that he’d be “proud to hang” New York State Senator Lea Webb from a tree in response to a news story about a Juneteenth celebration.

James A. Crosby, 49, of Binghamton, was arrested June 23 by New York State Police after investigators determined he posted a threatening comment on a WBNG 12 News Facebook post. “I’d be proud to hang her from a tree,” Crosby wrote, according to WBNG.

Crosby was charged with making a terroristic threat as a hate crime, a class C felony, per the New York State Police. He is currently being held at Broome County Jail.

During the subsequent investigation, state police found Crosby was in illegal possession of firearms despite being prohibited from owning them due to a prior felony conviction. Investigators recovered a rifle, a large-capacity ammunition feeding device, and a firearm suppressor — all prohibited under New York state law, per the NYSP.

Crosby was charged with four additional counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, all class D felonies.

Webb, who represents New York’s 52nd Senate District, had been a featured speaker at a Juneteenth flag-raising ceremony at Binghamton City Hall, where the celebration included prayers and the singing of the Black national anthem.

Police said Crosby’s comment was posted in response to a WBNG news story covering the event.

The day before his arrest, Crosby posted a Facebook apology claiming the comment “was not intended to be racial in any way” and was made in reference to what he described as a “criminal,” citing criticism of Webb over her use of nonprofit legal aid in a foreclosure case — a matter state watchdogs said created an appearance of a conflict of interest, per the Ithaca Voice. He was arrested the following day.

Webb issued a public statement June 25 condemning the threat.

“It was extremely disappointing and hurtful to see the now-deleted threat and attacks on my life in response to a story about Juneteenth, a national holiday that recognizes the ending of slavery in America,” she said. “Feedback and thoughts on policy are one thing, but to make a public call for lethal violence is absolutely unacceptable and dangerous. We must recognize our shared humanity and reject violence in all forms.”

She thanked Gov. Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and law enforcement for their “swift response.”

Following Crosby’s comments, social media users called for a boycott of his contracting business, Crosby Home Improvements.

The Binghamton City Democratic Committee also called for an investigation into the incident before his arrest.

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The post ‘Proud to hang her from a tree’: Man arrested for threatening Black Senator appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

Based on reporting by Atlanta Daily World.

The post ‘Proud to Hang Her from a Tree’: Man Arrested for Threatening Black Senator appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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CARICOM: Strengthen Integration for Future Generations

NEW YORK CARIB NEWS — Outgoing CARICOM Chairman Terrance Drew called on regional leaders to build a stronger and more effective Caribbean Community that benefits future generations. Speaking at the 51st Regular Meeting, Drew urged modernization of governance structures and improved implementation of Community decisions to make CARICOM safer and more prosperous.
The post CARICOM: Strengthen Integration for Future Generations appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 weeks ago

July 8, 2026

Oakland Post

Speaking Sunday at the opening of the 51st Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in Saint Lucia, Dr. Terrance Drew said the region must modernize its governance structures, improve the implementation of Community decisions, and ensure CARICOM becomes safer, more prosperous, and more relevant to the lives of its citizens.

The meeting, being held under the theme “CARICOM: From Resilience to Renewal in a Changing World,” coincides with the Community’s 53rd anniversary. During the ceremony, Dr. Drew formally handed over the rotating CARICOM chairmanship to Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister, Philip J. Pierre.

Reflecting on his six-month tenure as chairman, Drew praised fellow regional leaders for maintaining their commitment to democracy, good governance, unity, and the rule of law despite mounting global economic and geopolitical challenges.

“Throughout these challenges, CARICOM chose engagement over isolation. Together, we reaffirmed our commitment to a fair and rules-based international trading system and ensured that the interests of small developing states continued to be heard.”
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He highlighted progress made in strengthening the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, including deeper trade cooperation, expanded labour mobility, and efforts to lay the foundation for long-term economic growth. Drew also noted the Community’s growing partnerships beyond the Caribbean, particularly with the African Union, while stressing that every international partnership should advance the interests of all parties involved.

The outgoing chairman also expressed appreciation to Dr. Carla Barnett and the CARICOM Secretariat for their professionalism and unwavering support during his tenure.

“Whenever I called, you answered. Whenever support was required, you and your team responded with diligence, competence, and excellence.”

Dr. Drew urged the Secretariat to continue preserving its impartiality while faithfully implementing decisions made by Heads of Government, saying that balance has helped strengthen the regional integration movement.

The conference continues in Saint Lucia with regional leaders expected to deliberate on key issues including regional security, climate resilience, trade, economic integration, food security, Haiti, reparations, and strengthening the CSME.

Based on reporting by New York Carib News.

The post CARICOM: Strengthen Integration for Future Generations appeared first on BlackPressUSA.