‘Slap in the face’: Residents react to the Midtown cannon painted orange

MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)- The cannon that sits on the intersection of Government St. and Houston St. in Downtown Mobile is coated in orange paint following the 32-6 McGill Toolen victory Friday night.

A nearly 50-year-long tradition between McGill Toolen High School and Murphy High School was put to a halt in 2023 when the City of Mobile decided to stop issuing permits for the cannon to be painted in any situation.

Video taken by a neighbor shows a group of people at the cannon around 10:00 Friday night screaming and splattering orange paint all over the cannon.

Neighbors tell News 5 off-camera, that it used to be a “cute tradition”, but now the rowdiness of the group is out of control. The neighbor says they fear someone may get hurt while cars are driving past.

The City of Mobile never gave a clear answer as to why they stopped the permits in February 2023.

However, it followed the cannon being vandalized with black paint after it was painted for Pride Month .

While News 5 was at the cannon Saturday, one person stopped to tell us that she used to paint the cannon during pride month.

“It was an opportunity to be visual for us, and it was taken away,” Kathryn said.

Kathyrn says she was furious to see it painted orange, despite the City of Mobiles rules.

“It was a slap on the face for me to drive down the road,” Kathryn said. “It was a slap in the face.”

News 5 has reached out to the City of Mobile and the Mobile Police Department. We are waiting for a response.

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