Hate graffiti in Calgary train station prompts messages of love

Anti-Muslim hate speech in the form of graffiti was discovered scrawled across the Tuscany C-train station in Calgary and prompted an outpouring of love.

The hate speech was on windows, staircases, walls and even parked cars, according to the Calgary Sun. Twitter user Bhaveek Makan posted pictures of some of the hateful messages aimed at Muslims and Syrian refugees.

This shit is all over Tuscany station. Absolutely sickening. @calgarytransit#yyc#calgary . pic.twitter.com/c6g5KCFYsw

— Bhaveek Makan (@TehBhav) December 4, 2015

According to CTV news, despite the lack of a hate crime label, this is part of a series of attacks against Muslims in Canada, including a mosque that was set on fire in Peterborough back in November.

But a group of people decided to respond with words of love to counteract the hateful messages.

Several young Calgary residents banded together to hang heart-shaped posters with messages such as “make love, not war” to cover the graffiti on December 4 reports CBC News. When they arrived, the removal process was already underway and they were told they needed a permit to hang the signs. They decided to stay and hold the signs themselves.

These folks heard about graffiti at C-train station https://t.co/DJq06v8nLY + decided to bring message of their own. pic.twitter.com/WxqnFPJIbq

— Allison Dempster (@dempsterCBC) December 4, 2015

Nadir Khan, one of the sign bearers told CBC News love was a little remedy to an awful situation.

“We just want to show that the youth can do something positive … and we want to show that people may be doing bad things, but realistically, as a community, we can overcome it and we can do something better for the community,” he said.

Commuters were impressed by the outpouring of support.

@calgarytransit I was running late for class but whatever they were doing at Tuscany this morning made my day. I saw hearts & kind faces.

— Komal Ayub (@KomalAamirAyub) December 4, 2015