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Triad tattoo shops see increase in people removing discriminatory ink

Some Triad tattoo parlors are offering their services, no questions asked and free of charge.

GREENSBORO, N.C. — George Floyd's death, and the subsequent invigoration of Black Lives Matter has been changing the perspective of many.

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Take Herb Moniz, for example. He lives in Reidsville but was in downtown Greensboro last week making an appointment to remove a Confederate flag tattoo on his arm. 

"I was coming down here for a special trip for getting a tattoo I have covered up," Moniz explained. "My mom's name was Dixie Lee so I got a rebel flag tattoo before I moved here to the south, I'm from southern California."

He said there was no malice behind the tattoo when he got it, but knows how it's perceived.

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"When I moved here it had a completely different meaning here in the south," he continued. "I’m not covering up hate or prejudice, I’m covering up my own personal ignorance."

Moniz said he has supported the civil rights movement since he was a kid.

"I definitely don’t want to insult Black Lives Matter, black lives do matter," he stated. "I felt I had to do something to make it right in the universe with this silly tattoo."

Moniz had an emotional moment when he saw the George Floyd mural in front of Crafted.

"I come walking by and I see this beautiful mural of George Floyd, and I had to take a couple pictures by it and my heart started going out to him, it’s got to stop," Moniz said tearfully. 

Triad Tattoo artists are helping out. 

Tattoo artist Keron McHugh of The Cardinal Skin Art & Gallery in Mebane has a 'no questions asked' policy when it comes to getting rid of discriminatory ink. 

He's even doing it free of charge.

"To folks out there: if you have a tattoo on your body that is racist, somehow inflammatory against any class of people or person, come to me," McHugh pleaded. "I will fix it, anyone that walks into our studio is going to receive acceptance and be treated with dignity and respect."

McHugh said he hopes that will encourage more people to remove their racist tattoo art.

"It's just as much so the rest of us don't have to look at it as it is for them," he continued. 

Through top of the line service and mastery of art, our mission is to change the face of what a tattoo studio is and can be. Our philosophy is to create a comf...

McHugh said part of the offer is that he gets to pick the art that replaces the racism.

"I'm going to pick something pretty cool with a positive theme, so now it's creating ripple effects that we know are going to be positive."

McHugh said he's gotten several inquiries already.

Again, he's doing this for free even though tattoo coverups can cost anywhere from hundreds, to thousands of dollars.

"Whatever small part that I can do to make the world a kinder and better place, I'm going to do it."

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