| HeraldNet - Snohomish County's online news source |
 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2010 12:30 am |
ADVERTISEMENT |
|||||||||
 |
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
Local News 
|
|||||||||||||
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. 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there are some people who don't like other people that don't look like them," said the woman, who asked that her name not be published to protect her identity.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. |
- Sorry, Hawkeye; M*A*S*H gets bowled over
- Former Whidbey student shot
- County archive software paid for but waiting for set-up
- Ruling expected on Sultan beating statement
- ‘Roadkill’ caucus seeks a voice for centrist Democrats
- Police seek witnesses in two accidents
- PAWS calls out for critter care-givers
- Boeing has a busy test schedule
- Ex-Boeing engineer jailed for espionage
- Morning mystery: What happened to House Bill 3181?
- State Senate votes to toss I-960's tax-raising hurdle
(9) - Lynnwood sets height limit on grass: 8 inches (9)
- School levies in Snohomish County all passing, Marysville bond failing (6)
- A tidy lawn could be law in Lynnwood (4)
- Vote on school levies by Tuesday (3)
- Two suspects sought in Everett shooting that injured two (3)
- County archive software paid for but waiting for set-up (3)
- Former Whidbey student shot (2)
- Everett man charged with assault in attempt to circumcise son at home (2)
- Everett rethinks boutique wineries (2)
- Jackson girls outlast Meadowdale owdale
- OBT raises barre in children’s program
- Junior firefighters
- School levies passing
- Mavericks topple Wolfpack
- Get a second look at Second City Feb. 13
- Sports Briefs
- Warriors advance 11 to regional meet
- Arlington's Cascade Valley Hospital celebrates expansion, national award and 100 years of service
- Business Licences Feb. 2010
- Technology tips for launching your own business
- Business Events Feb. 2010
- Tech Talk: No excuse today for going without a Web site
- State already raising fees and rates that restrict business growth
- Some legislators again targeting people’s initiative petition rights
|
 
|
|
|
|
| TODAY'S TOP JOBS |
| View All Top Jobs |
| Top Cars |
|
| Top Homes |
|
|
ADVERTISEMENT |
|
|
|Contact Us
|Advertiser Services
|Home Delivery
|Newsstand Locations
|Classifieds
|Feedback
|About the Company
|Work@the Herald
|Site Map |
|
COMMENTS | Be the first to comment
Log in or register to post a new comment.
To read other terms and conditions, click here