'They're important to us': Hometown artist partners with Milwaukee Brewers to create southside mural

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee Brewers added a splash of color to the cream city while paying tribute to Latino Street Vendors.

The Brew Crew unveiled a new street mural on Friday, May. 17.

"I drew it, and being able to paint it at this scale, it means the world," said Michael Cerda, painter of the newly minted mural along The Heavy Hitters Athletic Facility.

The mural spans more than 98ft. long and was painted in three days.

Cerda said he wanted to highlight a figure in his community who inspires joy and hard work.

"Very few opportunities are here for them (immigrant workers), at the very beginning stages so being a Paletero is like an option for them to start working," said Cerda.

The mural made possible through a partnership with the Milwaukee Brewers comes nearly two weeks after a Paletero was harassed.

County leaders said the attack captured on social media is not acceptable.

"We want to continue to be vigilant to watch out for everyone in our community, especially our Paleteros, they're important to us and we are going to protect them," said Ald. José Pérez, Milwaukee Common Council President.

As for Cerda, he said this mural serves as a sweet treat, honoring generational hard work.

"You can tell he takes his work serious, and that's just a testament to our people that we just take our work serious, we don’t mess around, we know how to get the job done," said Cerda.

Cerda said he hopes to team up with other organizations throughout Milwaukee like Harley Davidson or the Milwaukee Bucks to create more Murals in the cream city.