Windows defaced with "hateful graffiti" at Chinese Cultural Centre

May 1 2020, 4:26 pm

Vancouver police are asking for the public’s help are in identifying a suspect, after several large windows at the Chinese Cultural Centre were defaced with what they describe as hateful graffiti on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside last month.

“It’s disheartening to report that these types of crimes are ongoing during the pandemic,” said VPD Const. Tania Visintin. “Our department takes crimes with such hate attached extremely seriously.”

Visintin said police believe the suspect walked into the courtyard of the Chinese Cultural Centre in the afternoon of April 2, and wrote “disturbing, racist remarks towards the Asian community” on four large glass windows.

Police described the suspect as white with a thin build, and at the time of the incident, he was wearing a black jacket, black pants, and grey running shoes. He was also wearing a black baseball cap with writing on the front and had a black and white bandana covering his nose and mouth.

VPD

In light of this incident, police said that in recent weeks, they have seen an increase in reports of anti-Asian hate-motivated incidents and criminal acts. They noted that 15 hate crimes were reported to police in April, and 11 of those had an anti-Asian element.

So far in 2020, there have been a total of 20 anti-Asian hate crimes reported to police. By comparison, there were 12 in all of 2019.

“We will not tolerate this in our city,” said Visintin.

Anyone with information is asked to call the VPD investigators at 604-717-2773 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.

Eric ZimmerEric Zimmer

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