The police say they’re investigating after racist and otherwise offensive graffiti was spray painted on bathrooms in a secluded West Bench park this week.
The graffiti included lewd remarks, depictions of genitals, and hateful comments toward racial minorities, including the phrase “Kill n——-s” and swastikas, as well as crude, anti-religious sentiments.
A resident, who asked not to be named, said he found the graffiti Wednesday evening while in the park with his children, which made for an awkward experience.
“It’s such a nice park, and I’ve got a two year old and a five year old and … I took the kids there yesterday, and it’s kind of disheartening to see such a shameful act done on such a nice park,” he said, adding that he hadn’t seen anything like it in the park, before.
“There’s the odd thing, but this was quite vulgar. I’ve seen up on Carmi, there were a couple of swastikas painted.”
Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth with the Penticton RCMP detachment confirmed that the police did receive a report of the graffiti and that they were investigating, but couldn’t confirm whether there have been other reports of racist graffiti in the city in recent times.
Two police cars were in the area of the park late Tuesday morning and the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen had a pair of workers in the area painting over the two bathroom buildings in the park, which were both reportedly extensively marred by offensive graffiti.
An RDOS employee estimated it would take about a workday and a half for both of them to fully paint the buildings and put on a second coat.