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York Regional Police are investigating a hate crime after offensive graffiti was found at Fleury Park in Aurora yesterday.
“YRP and our staff responded to Fleury Park following complaints of extensive hate-motivated graffiti,” wrote Aurora Mayor Tom Mrakas in a social media post.
“I want to make it clear that such actions are utterly unacceptable in our town, province, and country. They will not be tolerated, YRP has launched an investigation and if those responsible are apprehended, they will face full prosecution in accordance with the law.”
Officers located five vehicles, along with park benches and signs that had been vandalized with graffiti that included profanity, offensive drawings, and hateful language.
“We need to name his behaviour as antisemitism,” wrote one commenter on Mrakas’ social media post claiming the hate-motivated graffiti involved swastikas.
The police are encouraging parents to speak to their children and teens about the serious consequences of graffiti and hate-motivated incidents.
Youth who commit graffiti vandalism may be in possession of graffiti-related items such as spray paint, markers, etching tools, rubber gloves, adhesive stickers, sketch books or collections of photos, drawings or graffiti magazines, according to the police.
“Graffiti has a negative effect on our communities in many ways,” York Regional Police said in a news release. “York Regional Police does not tolerate hate crime in any form. Those who victimize others based on race, national or ethnic origin, language, colour, religion, age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, or mental or physical disability will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Hateful vandalism can contribute to reduced property values, a decline in commercial sales, increased crime rates in affected areas, wasted tax dollars for clean-up, decreased use and enjoyment of public facilities and it diminishes citizens’ feelings of safety and security, police said.
Anyone with information can contact the York Regional Police #1 District Criminal Investigation Bureau at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7141, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or leave an anonymous tip online at www.1800222tips.com.
