Outbreak of racist graffiti is met with outrage

Shamarica Scott, 16, was the victim of racist graffiti June 20 when a slur using her name was painted on the roadway of Northeast 44th Avenue, near her home. The incident spurred a flurry of community efforts, including a possible anti-racism resolution for the nearby city of Vancouver. (Zachary Kaufman/The Columbian)

It comes in many forms. Starting as name-calling, it escalates to violence. Or it shows up on a car door, on a street sign or in a driveway.

It’s hate, pure and simple. And a recent rash of graffiti in the Truman neighborhood just outside the city has drawn a chorus of condemnations from community leaders.

"These are the kinds of crimes that are distinguished from other crimes in that they should be intolerable," said Vancouver City Councilman Tim Leavitt. "They leave residents feeling intimidated and unsafe."

That’s why Leavitt has drafted an anti-racism city resolution that highlights Vancouver’s diversity and takes a zero-tolerance platform against racism.

He plans to present the resolution to fellow council members as early as next week for adoption.

"Hopefully, this effort will be a springboard to improving those kind of discussions," Leavitt said.

Meanwhile, last weekend’s racist graffiti have also spurred a flurry of public outcry. Several outraged community members plan to spearhead a cleanup effort to remove graffiti left in the Truman neighborhood.

On June 20, graffiti were found on cars, driveways and garbage cans at five residences in the neighborhood. They included a racist slur on Northeast 44th Avenue that named a 16-year-old black Fort Vancouver High School student, Shamarica Scott, specifically.

"It was all around the neighborhood, but I was the only one who got my name on the street," Scott said.

Sheriff’s investigators are continuing to investigate the vandalism and haven’t made any arrests.

After news of the graffiti hit, many took action. Leavitt called several businesses, inquiring about power-washing the graffiti off Scott’s driveway.

And local blogger Chris Bassett started his own effort — again. Last summer, he swung into action after Vancouver resident Frank Wastradowski’s car was racially tagged, apparently because of a Barack Obama political sign. Bassett raised funds to repair the vandalism.

Now, Bassett plans to use money left over from that fund to finance cleanup for Scott’s driveway. Friday, he donated $650 to the YWCA to head up the effort.

Bassett doesn’t know a timeline for the cleanup.

Other community leaders have publicly denounced the incident. Clark County Sheriff Garry Lucas issued a statement this week saying, "these recent criminal acts are reprehensible and this sort of conduct should not be tolerated."

Lucas alluded to the sheriff’s office’s continued work with the YWCA to combat hate crimes. The YWCA started a diversity work group two years ago to investigate racism in Clark County.

Lucas called for a greater crackdown in light of the recent incident.

"The sheriff’s office has taken a firm stance in attempting to document and address this behavior in the community," the statement said, "and is working with the YWCA on a series of community forums that will attempt to open dialogue between law enforcement and our diverse communities."

Hate incidents are more common in Clark County than most people realize, said Jay Atwood, the YWCA’s social change program director. A recent YWCA study, which interviewed members of various minority groups, found racism ranging from subtle stereotypes to name-calling. The worst was violence.

"A lot of people in Clark County don’t report them," Atwood said. "They vary and are prevalent in all minority groups you see here in Clark County. They go from things in the mall to things on the street to things in the workplace."

Laura McVicker: 360-735-4516 or laura.mcvicker@columbian.com.