Police are investigating after hate-motivated graffiti was sprayed over Clemens Mill Public School on Saginaw Parkway over the weekend and investigators are asking for the public’s assistance to identify those responsible.
The graffiti, discovered Saturday morning, included hate-motivated symbols and hate-motivated writing, Waterloo regional police said in a press release.
The Waterloo Region District School Board had a third-party company out the next day to clean up the graffiti, and told CambridgeToday that getting it cleaned was a top priority.
“The Waterloo Region District School Board is committed to ensuring our schools remain safe places where students and staff experience a caring learning environment that addresses their well-being,” said Heather Hughes, communications officer for the school board.
“Unfortunately, at times our school sites are targets of vandalism. We are grateful for those who reported the vandalism, and for the work of our staff to quickly remove it from school property.”
The school board did not provide a cost for the damages.
Linda Hartley was walking her dog near the school when she saw the graffiti on the school. She was shocked when she got closer and saw derogatory and racist words plastered on the walls.
“I was pretty taken aback when I read what was on there,” Hartley said Monday. “The entire back wall here and the back of that portable was covered in it.”
She notes that the next day when she took her dog for a walk, it was already cleaned up.
The graffiti artists didn’t stop at the school as they ventured down Nutcracker Street towards Burnett Avenue, painting cars as they went.
Residents in the area had words and symbols painted on their cars as two individuals walked the quiet neighbourhood on Friday night.
A video that was posted to Facebook shows the two would-be street artists stop and spray an unidentified word on a parked SUV.
Police are asking if anyone has camera footage of any suspicious behaviour to please contact police at 519-570-9777, extension 2299.
Anonymous tips can be provided to Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.waterloocrimestoppers.com.
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