Police are investigating dozens of racist acts and vandalism in Niagara

Restaurateur Michael Andrade was cooking for his church when he saw graffiti belittling his community in a car in the adjacent parking lot.

The 57-year-old Ontario was inside his restaurant back then, caribbean diningnot far from downtown St. Catharines.

I have never experienced anything like this. I’ve been here since 1986 … I’m a little affected, acknowledged Mr. Andrade in an interview with the CBC.

This incident, which occurred near his restaurant, was part of a series of racist and homophobic graffiti currently being investigated by Niagara police.

Initially, officers investigated acts of vandalism at Harriet Tubman Public School, five minutes away, before discovering 13 other hate graffiti incidents, including in six vehicles, three homes, a business and two school buses. .

The culprits acted around 10 p.m. Saturday, according to police and surveillance footage captured by Mr. Andrade.

The amount of damage was more than $ 5,000, according to police.

Call to testify

The first suspect was described as a medium build man wearing light colored pants and a sweater, baseball cap and black Nike shoes. Police also said he used his left hand.

The second suspect was described as a skinny man wearing a striped hoodie, pants, light colored shoes and a flat brim baseball cap.

Officers believe the suspects likely traveled on foot and went to the streets of George, Catherine, Albert, Henry and Louisa.

Police are asking for any video footage that could help identify the vandals.

General outrage

Niagara Region Anti-Racism Association executive member Saleh Waziruddin is concerned about the environment rude of these acts of vandalism.

It’s horrible, he said, they walk around without caring if they get caught or whatever. That has to endis carrying the local resident, also admittedly not feeling to all safe.

For his part, Mr. Andrade said he was more concerned about these racist practices because his grandson was a student at Harriet Tubman Public School and the hunt at the Tops supermarket in Buffalo, New York, where 10 black the slain, remain very recent.

” We send people to the moon, we do all these things but we don’t get along […] I can’t understand why people don’t see more than color. “

Following this, Mayor Walter Sendzik issued a public statement to remind the people that hatred has no place in the city.

The words used are full of white supremacist thinking-the actions imply a poisonous way of thinking. When these heinous acts occur, we must speak out and show our support for those affected by this hate-motivated sabotage.he wrote.

Saleh Waziruddin also hopes for the general outrage of the population.

[Les vandales] it’s better to stop because people can’t stand it and it’s better for them to give up. Anyone knows who they arehe threatened.

In the meantime, the peace of mind of the community is being severely tested, Mr. Waziruddin summarized.

With information from Bobby Hristova, CBC