Everett, Wash.
Published: Saturday, June 27, 2009

Racist graffiti scrawled on cars in Everett neighborhood

Five vehicles in Everett's Silver Firs neighborhood were vandalized; police had no suspects in the case Friday.

By Diana Hefley
Herald Writer

 EVERETT -- An Everett-area mother worried Friday about how to explain to her children the ugly, hateful words someone scrawled on the family's car overnight.

"I have to tell them there are some people who don't like other people that don't look like them," said the woman, who asked that her name not be published to protect her identity. "It's not a conversation I want to have to have with my children. I've never had to deal with this before in my life. We've always felt welcome and comfortable here."

The woman can't help but believe that the words and symbols, including a swastika, crudely spray-painted on her car were put there because of the color of her skin. She is Haitian-American.

The vandalism is being investigated as a hate crime.

At least five vehicles were vandalized in her Silver Firs neighborhood late Thursday or early Friday. Racial slurs, along with apparent "tagging," were painted in white on vehicle windows. At least two of the vehicles owners are minorities, Snohomish County sheriff's spokeswoman Rebecca Hover said.

Police didn't have any suspects Friday. Based on the evidence it appears that the vandalism may be the work of juveniles who are familiar with the neighborhood, Hover said.

"Some people may dismiss this if they hear it's juveniles. We don't. It's disturbing and awful no matter who is responsible," Hover said.

The Everett mother believes the vandalism likely is the work of young people. She worries about where they learned such hateful messages. She wants them to know the hurt they have caused.

"It's important we send the message to them that it won't be tolerated in our community," she said. "It's not acceptable."

Over the years young people have been responsible for some of the most egregious racist and anti-Semitic behavior reported in Snohomish County.

In 2004, two white 16-year-old cousins pleaded guilty to burning a cross on a black pastor's lawn in Arlington. Also that year, minority students at schools in Arlington and Monroe reported that other students waved nooses to intimidate them.

Police also believe juveniles were behind hateful graffiti discovered in more than a dozen locations in Arlington in 2008.

The family in this case discovered the vandalism about 5:30 a.m. Friday. The woman's husband was headed to his job at the Boeing Co. He found racist slurs, including references to white supremacist groups, covering the windows of one car. Apparent "tags" marked the other car. He called police.

Deputies also discovered white spray-paint graffiti on other cars and the front of one house on 136th Street SE.

The Everett woman said she is expecting the birth of the couple's fourth child. She said the family has lived in the Silver Firs neighborhood for five years. They haven't had any problems with anyone in their small development. They are comfortable raising their children, ages 4 to 6, there.

The vandalism has taken some of that from them.

"Maybe it will happen again," the woman said. "Will I wake up tomorrow and find something else?"

People have a right to their opinions, she said, but they do not have a right to violate her family as they have done.

"I've been raised to love everyone and respect everyone," the woman said. "I'm going to tell my children that we are still called to love whoever did this."

Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463, hefley@heraldnet.com.
© 2009The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA