| HeraldNet - Snohomish County's online news source |
 SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2010 1:50 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there are some people who don't like other people that don't look like them," said the woman, who asked that her name not be published to protect her identity.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. |
- What Washington's new cell-phone law means for you
- Murder suspect James Fryberg back in custody
- Shock at fish killings in Mill Creek
- Former Snohomish County planning director charged
- Monroe cell-tower plan angers neighbors
- Porno domain? What about one for cute kittens and puppies?
- Air Force tanker decision favoring Boeing isn’t free trade, British and French say
- Silvertips win, but can’t gain ground in fight for first
- College to offer engineering degree in Everett
- Visit Napa in March for fewer crowds, lower costs
- Monroe cell-tower plan angers neighbors
(18) - Air Force tanker decision favoring Boeing isn’t free trade, British and French say (17)
- Murder suspect James Fryberg back in custody (12)
- Everett courts water-bottling company (11)
- Bill passes making cell phones, texting while driving primary offense (11)
- What Washington's new cell-phone law means for you (9)
- Breaking news: Child murder suspect Fryberg in custody (8)
- Alcohol, marijuana cited in fatal wrong-way crash (7)
- Former Snohomish County planning director charged (7)
- Shock at fish killings in Mill Creek (6)
- Yelm ousts Lynnwood girls, 54-51
- Meadowdale boys take aim at fifth place
- Archbishop Murphy girls keep vow to win
- Meadowdale boys refuse to fold, but rally falls short in 3A state opener
- Prairie’s zone defense stymies Lynnwood at Class 3A state girls basketball tournament
- Ellensburg takes it to Archbishop Murphy girls at 2A tourney
- Beyond the ‘Woodstock Generation'
- Magical run for Jackson
- Boeing to Offer NewGen Tanker to US Air Force
- New CEO at Valley General Hospital
- Dan Koffman's ‘TopSpin' marketing astounds, inspires, motivates, produces — just for starters
- Economic forecasts for Snohomish County, Everett, Marysville offer some bright moments
- Government officials influencing home prices
- Massive EPA energy regulations meet challenge
- Washington state healthcare reforms also needed
|
|
 
|
|
|
|
| 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