Racist graffiti found on Richmond school

Racist graffiti appeared on two Richmond buildings overnight Friday, police say.

A swastika, the words "white power," and anti-Semitic and anti-Asian slogans were scrawled on the exterior walls of Gilmore elementary school Friday night or early Saturday morning.

Police discovered the graffiti at the school while investigating an unrelated knife fight. Two men agreed to meet on the school grounds to fight each other and wound up in hospital.

"While officers were there, they located graffiti on the side of Gilmore elementary and have determined the graffiti is unrelated to the fight that took place," said RCMP Cpl. Sherrdean Turley.

A ball hockey tournament was cancelled Saturday morning as a precaution and to allow time to cover the graffiti with paint.

Peter Foort, who lives nearby, took digital photos of the graffiti, which he called "graphic" and "disturbing," on Saturday before it was covered up.

"This is a pretty quiet neighbourhood and we love this neighbourhood and we're always out to protect it," Foort said.

"Unfortunately, this is one that got away from us."

Graffiti with similar wording was also found on a building at Blundell and Dyke roads.

Richmond RCMP are investigating these latest incidents, but disturbing graffiti is not new to the neighbourhood.

In July, two teenagers were arrested after a camera caught them defacing the parkade at the Empire Centre Mall with offensive comments.

Similar racist graffiti was also discovered in August at the Richmond Market.