The two deviants involved in painting over a Black Lives Matter mural in California have been charged with a hate crime.

Prosecutors identified the two as 42-year old Nicole Anderson and 53-year-old David Nelson, who are both white. The pair are being charged with violation of civil rights, vandalism and possession of tools to commit vandalism or graffiti. The Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office announced the charges on Tuesday in a press release. The incident happened on July 4 after the mural was painted in front of the courthouse in the city of Martinez, the district attorney's office stated.

Video posted to Twitter on Saturday shows Anderson painting over the words on the street while Nelson stands beside her and argues with witnesses trying to stop the act.

"Defendant Anderson covered up a Black Lives Matter mural with black paint. Nelson directly aided in the alleged criminal conduct," the district attorney's office stated. 

The video shows Nelson recording with his own phone while arguing with the crowd, saying oppression is nothing but a tall tale. 

"We're sick of this narrative," Nelson said to the bystanders. "The narrative of police brutality, the narrative of oppression, the narrative of racism, it's a lie."

When the crowd tells him that painting over the sign is racist, Nelson said the mural is racist.

"There is no oppression, there is no racism," he said. "It's a leftist lie. It's a lie from the media, the liberal left."

Anderson then shouts at the group, telling them they can go paint the sign in New York.

"This is not happening in my town," the 42-year-old said.

Nelson continued the back and forth with the group, telling them that "no one wants Black Lives Matter here."

"All lives matter you f**king punk," Nelson said, getting in the face of one man who was recording the incident.

"Keep America great again, that's right. Why don't you guys learn about history?" the white man said. "The Emancipation Proclamation Act. … Abraham Lincoln. You're only free because of our forefathers."

One person responded with a history lesson for the white man.

"Your ancestors are not even from here," the witness said. "Your ancestors are f**king colonizers. You're not f**king from America. You're a f**king colonizer."

District Attorney Diana Becton said the mural holds significance. 

“The mural completed last weekend was a peaceful and powerful way to communicate the importance of Black lives in Contra Costa County and the country," Becton said. "We must continue to elevate discussions and actually listen to one another in an effort to heal our community and country.”

Nelson and Anderson could face up to a year in county jail if convicted.

The press release added that "the alleged offenses are exempt from a specific bail amount due to the current county bail schedule in light of the COVID-19 pandemic."

According to KPIX, the mural was quickly repainted after it was damaged. 

“The community spent a considerable amount of time putting the mural together only to have it painted over in a hateful and senseless manner,” Police Chief Manjit Sappal's office said in a statement. “The city of Martinez values tolerance and the damage to the mural was divisive and hurtful.”

Police said Anderson and Nelson were already gone when they responded to the incident on July 4. But officers were able to get a photo of their vehicle from a witness. Authorities then found their Nissan pickup truck with the word “NICOLE” on the right side of the tailgate in silver lettering. 

According to KPIX, community members obtained a permit from the city a few days before the incident and painted “Black Lives Matter” on the road over a five-hour period shortly before it was destroyed. Local group Martizians For Black Lives organized the project.