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Dave Cutlip, the owner of Southside Tattoo in Baltimore, Maryland is helping people cover up their racist and gang-related tattoos, and he's doing it for free.

“It started because someone came in and asked me to remove gang tattoos from their face,” Cutlip tells GOOD. “I could see the hurt. But to be honest, I couldn’t help them.” After a long conversation with the guy, Cutlip was moved by his story and how he went from being in a gang in prison to becoming a “productive citizen” with a job, wife, and kids. Cutlip's wife then pulled him aside and said, “You can help people, Dave.” That's when they decided to write a note and post it on GoFundMe, asking people to donate money for the removal of unwanted gang and racist tattoos, as many people can't afford it themselves. To Dave's surprise, this whole idea went viral and what was meant to help just a few people in Baltimore, received 7000 likes in just three hours. Now, Cutlip has helped a lot of people already and is hoping to open more shops around the world. “The media has asked me what is the most memorable removal I’ve worked on,” he said. “To be honest, they’ve all been that memorable. All of these people, I don’t believe they were racist to begin with. I believe they did what they had to survive at the place they were at that time in their life.”

More info: GoFundMe (h/t: good)

“It started because someone came in and asked me to remove gang tattoos from their face,” said Dave Cutlip

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He provides the service for free thanks to donations he receives from GoFundMe

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Watch the video below to learn more:

#1

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Anita Rapp
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Could have just made it patriotic by adding RED and BLUE on each side. Less pain too.

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Claire
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Had to look this one up - represents his rank in the white supremacy gang he was in

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CultOfBambi
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Can anyone shed some light on what DWA means? I tried googling it but the only racist result was 'Driving While Asian', referring to when Asian people are pulled over for no reason. Is the tattoo ironic? And 'DME' too (further down the list) - I'm pretty sure Durable Medical Equipment isn't offensive to anyone.

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Billy Bobby
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I really can't believe how dumb people are, getting these racist tattoos... WE ARE ALL EQUAL

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Steve Tipple
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

DMI. Dead Man Inc. The gang was started by a man named Perry Roark, who court records show is from Bel Air and is currently being held at the Maryland Correctional Adjustment Center, known as Supermax. Roark, who is white, wanted to join the established Black Guerrilla Family, and though he was respected and knew BGF members, he was not allowed to join because of his race. So he started Dead Man Inc. in the late 1990s to serve as a white off-shoot of the BGF. The main beliefs were anti-government and anti-religion; homosexuals, rapists and snitches need not apply, members said.

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Steve Tipple
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dead Man Inc. The gang was started by a man named Perry Roark, who court records show is from Bel Air and is currently being held at the Maryland Correctional Adjustment Center, known as Supermax. Roark, who is white, wanted to join the established Black Guerrilla Family, and though he was respected and knew BGF members, he was not allowed to join because of his race. So he started Dead Man Inc. in the late 1990s to serve as a white off-shoot of the BGF. The main beliefs were anti-government and anti-religion; homosexuals, rapists and snitches need not apply, members said.

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