Dem lawmaker sparks online firestorm after saying Iryna Zarutska mural doesn't align with city's values

"We can both agree that this mural behind us does not reflect Providence's values nor does it reflect the creativity that we would want to see in our city."

The lawmaker's comments immediately sparked negative reactions from conservatives on social media after they were posted by the conservative influencer account End Wokeness in a post that has been viewed over 1 million times. 

Fox News Digital reached out to Morales's office for comment but did not receive a response.

"Not to exploit the death of a refugee to push an agenda centered around fear and division," Morales wrote. "My values, like many of our neighbors in Providence, is to protect our immigrant neighbors from ICE's state-sanctioned violence and supporting our refugee neighbors with authentic care."

The mayor of Providence, Democrat Brett P. Smiley, has also spoken out against the mural.

"The murder of the individual depicted in this mural was a devastating tragedy, but the misguided, isolating intent of those funding murals like this across the country is divisive and does not represent Providence," Smiley said. "I continue to encourage our community to support local artists whose work brings us closer together rather than further divides us."

The suspect, Decarlos Brown Jr., 34, is charged with violence against a railroad carrier and mass transportation system resulting in death, which is a capital offense under federal law.

Records from the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction show Brown has a prior criminal history, including convictions for larceny, breaking and entering and armed robbery. He served five years in prison starting in 2015.

"Iryna was riding home on the train when a deranged monster, who had been arrested over a dozen times and was released through no-cash bail, stood up and viciously slashed a knife through her neck and body," Trump said.

Fox News Digital's Louis Casiano contributed to this report.