By Beth David, Editor
Fairhaven police are investigating as a hate crime the vandalism on a fence on Castle Avenue, behind Fairhaven High School.
A racial slur was painted on the stockade fence in front of the home of a Cape Verdean family. “Kill a N___a” it reads, “Like a care package.”
Lt. Kevin Kobza, Fairhaven Police Department spokesperson, said the incident is being investigated as a hate crime, which includes the required reporting to the appropriate agencies.
“To have such a disgusting display of horrible racism rear its ugly head within our community is as infuriating as it is hearbreaking,” said Lt. Kobza. “This absolutely does not define who we are as a town, and it certainly is not reflective of who we are as a people. Whoever is responsible for this atrocity will be charged to the fullest extent of the law.”
He said there have been no other incidents of this nature in Fairhaven and the department is vigorously investigating it.
There was some graffiti vandalism to the high school on 11/30/18, but there were no racist overtones in that incident.
The resident had previously reported to police that her house had had eggs thrown at it on New Year’s Day. Police do not know if the incidents are related.
In an update, just before press time, Lt. Kobza said that the ongoing investigation revealed that the sentence written on the fence is from a rap song, leading police to believe it may be more of a random act than a hate crime aimed at the family.
The area is at a dead end “paper street” that is used by the neighbors as a short cut.
“Due to these circumstances, and in speaking with the resident further, police believe that the act was random and that the graffiti was likely done by someone using the trail behind the victim’s home,” said Lt. Kobza in a press release.
Police are still investigating the incident as an act of vandalism and defacement of personal property.
“If further information is developed that indicates that a hate crime was indeed committed, the Department will pursue the case as such,” reads the statement.
Anyone who has information about any of these incidents, should call the Fairhaven Police at 508-997-7421.
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