Antisemitic graffiti found in Whitby condemned

Antisemitic graffiti was discovered in Whitby prompting condemnation from town council.

In the wake of the discovery, Mayor Elizabeth Roy put out a statement saying, “I condemn this act of hate in the strongest possible terms.” The graffiti was found in Prince of Wales Park, just north of Dundas Street near the Thickson Road intersection.

She continued, “Whitby embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion. We strive to make our town a place where everyone feels a sense of belonging and safety.” She called the discovery “an attack on the values that define us as a community and will not be tolerated.”

The vandalism was discovered on Friday and the town immediately dispatched workers to clean up the mess. It has been covered up until repairs are made. However, the town has not described the damage or disclosed how long it will take to fix.

“The actions of a hateful few cannot and will not define us. It is critical that we stand united as a community against all forms of hate and intolerance,” Roy concluded.

Such graffiti is a fairly common discovery in Durham Region. Last year antisemitic graffiti was found along Achilles Road in Ajax during Jewish Heritage Month. This too was swiftly cleaned up and prompted “disgust and disappointment” from Mayor Shaun Collier.

Anyone with information can call police at 1-888-579-1520 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).