Residents and businesses have joined forces in a bid to wipe out all traces of an overnight racist graffiti attack on West Footscray shopfronts and properties.
Swastikas and white supremacist slogans were sprayed onto a number of Indian-owned and other stores and restaurants on Barkly Street in the early hours of Saturday, enraging locals.
A team of volunteers descended on Saturday morning to scrub out Nazi symbols and slogans such as ‘white power’, ‘immigrant scum’ and ‘Niggers must die’ from Barkly Street shop and restaurant windows, along with fences on residential Clarke Street.
Resident Brett Long, who organised the clean-up response, said he wanted to send the message that the local community overwhelmingly supported the businesses and those who ran them.
SOME OF THE OFFENSIVE GRAFFITI. PICTURES: LUKE HEMER
“On the one hand you could leave it there and they could feel unwelcome, or you could show the exact counter to the hatred and clean it off,” he said.
“A bunch of families were down there cleaning all the shops. It’s a symbolic thing, showing these people we won’t stand for this kind of thing.
“We’re no heroes; we’re just living out our values.”
Amy Newman’s family was quickly on site to help with the rapid clean-up.
She said people were left disgusted by the attack and quickly banded together to help.
“We worked on a couple of shop fronts including Tandoori Flames and Dosa Corner, and the Chinese building on the corner of Clarke Street,” she said.
SOME OF THE OFFENSIVE GRAFFITI. PICTURE: BRETT LONG
“The owner at Tandoori Flames was most grateful for help removing it.”
Other businesses attacked in the graffiti blitz included Thai Angels and Indian restaurant Aangan.
Race crime
Maribyrnong mayor Cameron McDonald slammed those responsible for the graffiti.
“I’m really happy that the community got together so quickly, but at the same time I’m also just distressed people still feel the need to put swastikas on Indian restaurants. Why?”
Cr McDonald said deliberate race based attacks targeting multicultural areas was a serious concern.
SOME OF THE OFFENSIVE GRAFFITI. PICTURE: AMY NEWMAN
“People should go straight to Crimestoppers, it’s a race crime,” he said.
“But it’s a really good sign that the community cares about these things.”
Locals have taken to social media to vent their disgust, vowing to make bookings in a show of solidarity with the targeted businesses.
Victoria Police spokeswoman Belinda Batty said police are aware of the graffiti and are investigating.
“Victoria Police takes all crime seriously, including that which is motivated by prejudice, racism or discrimination,” she said.
“We strongly support every Victorian’s right to feel safe and secure in their community.”
Ms Batty said the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act makes it an offence to threaten or incite hatred towards a person or group based on race or religion.
“We ask anyone who witnesses, or is subject to, racism, discrimination or victimisation on the basis of religion, culture or ethnicity, to inform Victoria Police.”
Dr Dvir Abramovich, Chairman of the B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission, decried the “disturbing act of bigotry”.
“This type of hate has no place in Australia and runs counter to our country’s values of acceptance and respect for all faiths.”
