Racist graffiti found scrawled on Clarington bus stop

The search is on for the vandal who scrawled racist messages on a Bowmanville bus stop.

Durham Regional Police learned of the graffiti on Nov. 28. When they got to the bus stop at Roenigk Drive and King Street West, they found numerous racist messages written on the structure. As usual, they did not publicly share the nature of this graffiti or which group was targeted.

“Investigators are appealing for anyone in the area who may have seen anything suspicious to call,” police said. Anyone with information can call police at 1-888-579-1520 ext. or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

These discoveries are common across Durham Region. There were two racist incidents within days of each other in August. Firstly on Aug. 12, someone poured a flammable substance onto a Whitby soccer field and set it ablaze.

Police did not initially describe the nature of the graffiti but Jewish advocacy group B’nai Brith, Canada’s oldest human rights organization, later confirmed the blaze had burned a swastika into the grass.

Mayor Elizabeth Roy was quick to condemn “this act of hate in the strongest possible terms.” She called it “an attack on the values that define us as a community and will not be tolerated.”

“This shocking act of hate in Whitby is a stark reminder of the troubling rise in antisemitism across Canada,” said B’nai Brith said, “A swastika burned into the grass at Prince of Wales Park not only defaces public property but deeply wounds our efforts to protect and uphold traditional Canadian values.”

This was meant to be condemned again during a meeting on Oct. 7, the anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel. However, Councillor Christopher Leahy derailed the meeting before it could be discussed with his own allegations of anti-Asian racism. It was instead condemned again on Oct. 9.

Hateful graffiti was discovered again at a Newcastle pickleball court days later. This time, the graffiti was anti-Black in nature.

“I want to state clearly that this hateful act does not represent our community’s beliefs and principles. Our community values inclusivity, equity and diversity. This is what makes Clarington a welcoming place for all our residents,” Mayor Adrian Foster said, “We stand together to condemn any form of discrimination and hate. Racism and ignorance like this are not acceptable in Clarington. We are committed to working with our residents towards a better future for us all.”