A string of anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant messages left on walls around downtown Sebastopol earlier this week is being investigated as a hate crime, the city announced Thursday.
Early Tuesday morning, the Sebastopol Center for the Arts and Sebastopol Veterans Memorial Building, along with walls in Ives Park and several downtown businesses, including a polling place, were hit with anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim messaging, along with at least one pro-police message that stated “Fund Police.”
The messages were left in red spray paint, according to a photo released by Sebastopol police. Public works crews removed the graffiti later that day.
The messages are being investigated as a hate crime, a spokesperson for the city said Thursday. A suspect has not been identified.
“The City of Sebastopol condemns these messages in the strongest terms and recognizes the harm they can cause, particularly to members of the communities targeted,” read the city’s statement. “Acts meant to intimidate or divide our neighbors have no place here.”
On Wednesday, the San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations released a statement condemning the messages.
Zahra Billoo, executive director of CAIR’s local chapter, said in an interview Wednesday that while she hadn’t heard of other recent anti-Muslim hate crimes in Sebastopol, the Bay Area has concentrated areas where anti-Muslim acts are more frequent.
“We just completed an election cycle that was rife with Islamophobia,” said Billoo. “So, I’m disappointed, but not surprised.”
Anyone with information or questions is encouraged to contact Lt. Andrew Bauer at 707-829-4400.