An Edgemont Village woman was in disbelief Thursday morning to find a swastika spray-painted on the road in her quiet neighbourhood.
Tamara Komuniecki noticed the hate symbol around 9:30 a.m. at the corner of Woodbine and Thorncliffe drives.
“I just absolutely could not believe it,” she said. “I find it heartbreaking and astounding and almost unbelievable that we have fallen so far and that we’re not further ahead when it comes to race relations, when it comes to discrimination, when it comes to treatment of people who are quote-unquote different.”
Komuniecki reported it to the RCMP and, as a block watch member, started canvassing in the neighbourhood looking for possible witnesses or residents with surveillance cameras. She also headed for home to get a scrub brush and some paint thinner, but found that District of North Vancouver crews had already removed the offensive symbol before she had a chance to.
Its appearance before Remembrance Day is troubling, but Komuniecki, who has a political science background and previously volunteered for the Democrats during Barack Obama’s first run for president, said she believes it is a sign of rising ethnic nationalism, inspired by Donald Trump.
“I think it would not be a stretch to associate it with the outcome of the American election and the seeming normalization of the vocalization of hatred that comes hand in hand with the election of a racist, white supremacist, sexist buffoon of a man,” she said, noting there has been a spike in reported incidents of racist harassment and graffiti as well as resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan. “My son is my heart and soul and I don’t want him to think that we live in a world where there are people who still hold the meaning of the swastika as their personal truth. I can’t even fathom that can be happening in my neighbourhood.”
Komuniecki said part of her would like to believe the hate symbol was just the work of dumb kids who don’t understand what they’re doing, but even that is unacceptable.
“Even as a prank, even as a joke, that, to me, sends a chill down my spine, whether there’s malice or mischief,” she said. “It’s a black mark on our village.”
North Vancouver RCMP Cpl. Geoff Harder said the swastika has obvious connotations but it appears it was not intended to target any local groups or individuals.
“The RCMP take all matters that may be hate or bias motivated seriously and all incidents such as this are fully investigated by the police,” he said. “We realize incidents like this have a direct impact on citizens and communities and we encourage the general public to report all incidents such as this to their local police.”
If someone were caught in the act, they likely would be charged with criminal mischief, Harder added.
If someone were to be caught, Komuniecki said she’d prefer to have a sit-down with them and talk about it rather than see criminal charges involved.
“Take it as an opportunity to educate,” she said. “Show this person some of the images that come out of the Holocaust.”
According to a District of North Vancouver spokesperson, it is the only swastika graffiti that has turned up.
