Chinatown's Millennium Gate defaced with racist graffiti

The Millennium Gate in Vancouver’s Chinatown has been defaced with racist graffiti.

Photos posted on Twitter show the anti-Asian sentiments related to COVID-19 sprawled on the lion statues, which sit at the base of the ornate historical landmark that welcomes visitors to the Chinatown neighbourhood.

Both lions were defaced. 😤 #Chinatownyvr #racism pic.twitter.com/6jI4Wzt4Jo

— Sarah Ling | 凌慧意 (@sarahwyling) May 19, 2020

In a statement to Daily Hive, VPD Cst. Tania Visintin said Vancouver Police “are aware” of the racist graffiti.

“The VPD take all of these incidents very seriously and are investigating this graffiti,” she said.

“We are asking anyone who is the victim of any of these hate crimes or is a witness to a hate crime to contact the VPD so we can investigate.”

• See also:
  • “It is unacceptable”: Horgan addresses racist incidents in BC
  • Another anti-Asian attack in Vancouver, except the victim wasn’t Asian
  • BC minister “cannot remain silent” about anti-Asian hate crimes

Earlier this month, windows at the Chinese Cultural Centre were defaced with what VPD described as “hateful graffiti.”

In a statement released last weekend, Premier John Horgan said everyone has a right to “live without fear of violence or discrimination” and called the recent stories of racism in the province “disturbing.”

“People are being targeted as they go about their daily lives. It is unacceptable. I have said it before: hate has no place in our province, and it will not be tolerated,” he said.

“Our strength is in our diversity and we reject all forms of racism, discrimination, intolerance, and bigotry.”