Hate in Hamilton : Hate Graffiti in Hamilton Ontario

<BODY bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000" vlink="#000000" link="#000000"> <H2><FONT COLOR=RED>Hate in Hamilton</font></H2> <ADDRESS>© <A HREF="mailto:nberman@hateinhamilton.ca?subject=Hate in Hamilton">Nathan Berman</A></ADDRESS> <P> <TABLE><TR><TD> <A HREF="sw_ert_kenilworth.htm"><IMG SRC="thumbnails/sw_ert_b4nafter.jpg" BORDER=0 ALT="swastika graffito: Escarpment Rail Trail bridge over Kenilworth Access, Hamilton, ON"></A> </TD><TD> This website documents hate graffiti in Hamilton, Ontario. H2><TT>21/02/2012</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">HATE IN HAMILTON 2011 REPORT</FONT></H3> In 2011 Hate in Hamilton documented 18 incidents of hate graffiti. Significant cleanups have occurred however swastika graffiti persists behind Ridgecrest Baptist Church (582 & 588 Barton St. E.) and First Romanian Baptist Church (130 Victoria Ave. N). As well, the swastika on the Escarpment Rail Trail with the slogan "Nazi Elite" has remained up for at least seven years; on the same trail someone restored an old swastika that re-emerged - site clean ups need to be more permanent than the spray paint used by vandals. <P> Read the <A HREF="hih_report_2011.htm" target="_top">Hate in Hamilton 2011 Report</A>. <H2><TT>10/01/2012</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">NEW SWASTIKAS ON ESCARPMENT RAIL TRAIL</FONT></H3> The Escarpment Rail Trail over the Kenilworth Access has a <A HREF="sw_ert_bridge_04.htm">swastika tag on the bridge</A> and someone has painted <A HREF="sw_ert_bridge_05.htm">a fresh swastika</a> over the <A HREF="sw_ert_kenilworth.htm">old graffito from 2005</A> that reappeared due to exposure to the elements: the latter incident should have been cleaned up. As well, there is <A HREF="ert_giw.htm">another racist graffito</A> featuring the dual lightening bolt symbol of the <I>Schutzstaffel</I> further east along the trail. <H2><TT>18/08/2011</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">SWASTIKA SITE FROM 2005 NEEDS ANOTHER CLEANUP</FONT></H3> A <A HREF="sw_ert_kenilworth.htm">swastika on the Escarpment Rail Trail that was painted over in 2006</A> is reappearing due to exposure to the elements; this site requires a better clean up. <H2><TT>03/04/2011</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">HATE IN HAMILTON 2010 REPORT</FONT></H3> 27 incidents of hate graffiti were documented in 2010, of which 15 were swastikas. The swastika on the Escarpment Rail Trail with the slogan "Nazi Elite" remains from 2005. Another egregious site is located on the 2nd floor of the Central branch of the Hamilton Public Library, where a desk has two swastikas etched into it despite an extensive renovation that was recently completed. <P> Read the <A HREF="hih_report_2010.htm" target="_top">Hate in Hamilton 2010 Report</A>. <H2><TT>04/12/2010</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">CITY OF VAUGHAN POLICY ON HATE GRAFFITI</FONT></H3> In January 2010, the City of Vaughan Community Equity and Diversity Committee partly derived its definition of hate graffiti from the definition established by the Hate in Hamilton website in its annual reports. According to the Committee's report: <BLOCKQUOTE> It is important, once an incident of hate graffiti is confirmed either through a police report or through other means, that the City acts as quickly as possible. Dependent upon the severity of the hate graffiti incident, the response from the City may vary from ensuring the offending graffiti is removed to formal statements and the organization of community meetings. </BLOCKQUOTE> Read the <A HREF="docs/CWA0112_19.pdf" target="_blank">City of Vaughan Community Equity and Diversity Committee Report on Racist and Anti-Semitic Graffiti</A>. <H2><TT>04/04/2010</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">HATE IN HAMILTON 2009 REPORT</FONT></H3> 27 incidents of hate graffiti were documented in 2009, of which 18 were anti-police tags. Although most of the hate tags from 2005 are now gone, the swastika on the Escarpment Rail Trail with the slogan "Nazi Elite" remains from this period. Other egregious hate sites include <A HREF="http://www.goodshepherdcentres.ca/Programs/Youth/notredame_house.htm">Notre Dame House</A>, a 24 hour emergency shelter that has had a swastika on the west side of the building since 2006, and 75 Maplewood Avenue across from <A HREF="http://esip.edu.gov.on.ca/english/profiles/school_info.asp?ID=B66141&schoolid=002674">Adelaide Hoodless Public School</A>, which has a swastika from at least 2007 - all of these sites were mentioned in the 2008 Hate in Hamilton report yet no action was taken to remove them. <P> Read the <A HREF="hih_report_2009.htm" target="_top">Hate in Hamilton 2009 Report</A>. <H2><TT>03/18/2010</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">HATE GRAFFITI CLEANUPS </FONT></H3> Hate graffiti cleanups have occurred at the follwing sites: <UL><LI>167 Sherman Ave. N. (which removed <A HREF="cg02.htm">anti-black</A> and <A HREF="cg.htm">homophobic</A> graffiti)</LI> <LI><A HREF="rune311.htm">32 Leeming St.</A></LI> <LI><A HREF="nmc.htm">Barton St. E. & Elgin</A></LI> <LI><A HREF="ap_bbs.htm">sidewalk near the Beer Store at Barton E. & Elgin</A></LI><LI>a phone box at <A HREF="jacksonkc.htm">20 Jackson St.</A> (but not <A HREF="jacksonkc_02.htm">the rear of the box</A>)</LI> <LI><A HREF="ap_66ms.htm"> 66 Mary St.</A></LI> <LI><A HREF="ftp_me.htm">370 Main St. E.</A></LI><LI><A HREF="nmp_cannon.htm">259 Cannon St. E. at Oak Ave.</A></LI><LI><A HREF="wpap01.htm">Woodland Park</A> at Barton St. E. and Wentworth N.</LI> <LI><A HREF="sw_sanders.htm">Sanders Blvd. + Norfolk St. N. (near McMaster University)</A></LI></UL> <H2><TT>03/17/2010</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">ACCUMULATION OF NAZI & ANTI-BLACK GRAFFITI </FONT></H3> A homophobic graffito on the <A HREF="ertf.htm">Escarpment Rail Trail south of Limeridge Road East</A> up since 2006 has finally faded; this does not constitute a clean up. Meanwhile, Nazi and anti-black graffiti is accumulating on the <A HREF="sw_msp_02.htm">interior of a nearby bus shelter</A> at Limeridge East and Upper Kenilworth Avenue. <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">ANTI-ISLAMIC GRAFFITO </FONT></H3> A site with a broadly <A HREF="ert_ath.htm">anti-religious graffito</A> has been covered with a new <A HREF="ert_ath_01.htm">anti-Islamic graffito</A>. <H2><TT>02/26/2010</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">HATEINHAMILTON.CA </FONT></H3> The Hate in Hamilton website now has its own domain name. <H2><TT>09/08/2009</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">SWASTIKA PAINTED OVER BEHIND HOMESTEAD BAR AND GRILL </FONT></H3>A <A HREF="sw_homestead.htm">swastika on a shed</A> behind the Homestead Bar and Grill on 627 King St. East has been removed. On the Escarpment Rail Trail <A HREF="sw_ert_east02.htm">a swastika has been covered over with rocks</A>, but this does not constitute a clean up. <H2><TT>08/12/2009</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">CENTURY THEATRE PAINTED</FONT></H3> The entire ground level of the Century Theatre has been painted; the vacant building had accumulated <A HREF="bct01.htm">anti-police</A>, <A HREF="nct.htm">racist</A>, and <A HREF="bct.htm">antisemitic</A> graffiti since at least 2008. <H2><TT>02/16/2009</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">HATE IN HAMILTON 2008 REPORT</FONT></H3> The <A HREF="hih_report_2008.htm" target="_top">Hate in Hamilton 2008 Report</A> analyzes four years of data monitoring hate graffiti in the city. 35 incidents were documented in 2008, of which 20 were anti-police tags. Numerous hate tags from 2005, 2006 and 2007 have yet to be removed including a swastika on <A HREF="http://www.goodshepherdcentres.ca/notredame_house.htm">Notre Dame House</A>, an emergency shelter. <P> Read the <A HREF="hih_report_2008.htm" target="_top">Hate in Hamilton 2008 Report</A>. </TD></TR></TABLE> <H2><TT>11/02/2008</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">ANTI-POLICE TAGS REMOVED</FONT></H3> The anti-police graffito on <A HREF="dnfkc.htm">Danny's No Frills at 435 Main St E.</A> has been promptly removed. Traffic light control boxes with similar tags have been cleaned up at <A HREF="ap_st_02.htm">Wilson & Steven streets</A> and <A HREF="tisftp.htm">Tisdale Street North & King Street East</A>. <H2><TT>10/20/2008</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">ANTI-POLICE TAGS ACCUMULATING DOWNTOWN</FONT></H3> A swastika tag on a traffic light control box <A HREF="sw_st_02.htm">at the corner of Wilson and Steven streets</A> has been tagged over with an anarchist symbol and anti-police epithets; such tags are accumulating downtown: <UL> <LI><A HREF="atp_wilson.htm">Steven St. and Wilson St.</A></LI><FONT COLOR="RED"><TT>SIGN REMOVED</TT></FONT> <LI><A HREF="fp_wilson.htm">424 Wilson St.</A></LI> <LI><A HREF="nmc.htm">Barton St. E. and Elgin St.</A></LI> <LI><A HREF="wftp.htm">alley behind Theatre Aquarius </A></LI><FONT COLOR="RED"><TT>REMOVED</TT></FONT> <LI><A HREF="tisftp.htm">Tisdale St. N and King St. E.</A> <FONT COLOR="RED"><TT>REMOVED</TT></FONT></LI> <LI><A HREF="fckw.htm">Emerald St. N. + King William St.</A></LI> <LI><A HREF="dnfkc.htm">No Frills 435 Main St E.</A><FONT COLOR="RED"><TT>REMOVED</TT></FONT></LI> <LI><A HREF="jacksonkc.htm">20 Jackson St. W.</A></LI> <LI><A HREF="fhdp.htm">25 West St. N.</A><FONT COLOR="RED"><TT>REMOVED</TT></FONT></LI> </UL> <H2><TT>07/30/2008</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">GANG GRAFFITI ACCUMULATING ON UPPER GAGE AND LIMERIDGE EAST WALKWAY</FONT></H3> <A HREF="ms13_lr.htm">Gang graffiti by Mara Salvatrucha</A>, including <A HREF="ftp_lr.htm">anti-police tags and death threats</A>, has been found along the Limeridge St. East walkway near Upper Gage. The fence along this walkway is covered in graffiti, which includes a <A HREF="sw_lr.htm">swastika</A>. <H2><TT>07/29/2008</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">ANTI-POLICE GRAFFITO REMOVED FROM CORKTOWN PARK</FONT></H3> An anti-police tag in <A HREF="ftp_cp.htm">Corktown Park</A> has been removed; however, a <A HREF="swni.htm">swastika nearby along the same path</A> remains up. <H2><TT>07/23/2008</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">GANG TAGS REMOVED FROM SAM LAWRENCE PARK</FONT></H3> Gang tags by Mara Salvatrucha, which included racist slogans and death threats, have been removed from the <A HREF="slp_ms13_01.htm">stone fence in Sam Lawrence Park</A>. <H2><TT>06/10/2008</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">SWASTIKA TAG REMOVED ON THE ESCARPMENT RAIL TRAIL</FONT></H3> The top of the <A HREF="sw_ert_fence02.htm">fence overlooking the brick works</A> which was tagged with a swastika has been removed; however, another <A HREF="sw_ert_fence.htm">swastika graffito on the same fence</A> is still up. <H2><TT>04/05/2008</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">SWASTIKA TAGS ACCUMULATING ON THE ESCARPMENT RAIL TRAIL</FONT></H3> Another swastika has been tagged on the <A HREF="sw_ert_fence02.htm">fence overlooking the brick works along the Escarpment Rail Trail</A>; the other <A HREF="sw_ert_fence.htm">swastika on the same fence</A> has remained up since at least 2006. <H2><TT>04/12/2008</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">SWASTIKA REMOVED FROM ONTARIO GOVERNMENT BUILDING</FONT></H3> A swastika tag has been removed from the <A HREF="sw_efb.htm">Government of Ontario's Ellen Fairclough Building</A> across the street from Jackson Square. <H2><TT>03/10/2008</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">GANG GRAFFITI REMOVED</FONT></H3> A gang tag up since 2005 has been painted over at <A HREF="bk.htm">666 King Street East.</A> At a <A HREF="sw_wilson_03.htm">bus stop on Wilson at Sanford</A>, a swastika has been tagged over. <H2><TT>01/27/2008</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">HATE IN HAMILTON 2007 REPORT</FONT></H3> The <A HREF="hih_report_2007.htm" target="_top">Hate in Hamilton 2007 Report</A> analyzes three years of data monitoring hate graffiti in the city. 29 incidents were documented in 2007, with 16 hate tags still up from 2006 and 3 from at least 2005. <P> Read the <A HREF="hih_report_2007.htm" target="_top">Hate in Hamilton 2007 Report</A>. <H2><TT>01/08/2008</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">SWASTIKA IN WEST FLAMBOROUGH TAGGED OVER WITH CHRISTIAN GRAFFITI</FONT></H3> A swastika on a bridge along the <A HREF="sw_crooks.htm">Crooks Hollow trail in West Flamborough</A> has been tagged over with a Christian mural. However, another swastika with a slash through it remains, presumably because it expresses anti-racist sentiment. <H2><TT>12/18/2007</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">HATE GRAFFITI REMOVED FROM DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES</FONT></H3> Several downtown businesses have removed hate tags from their premises: <UL> <LI><A HREF="ls.htm">Love Shop</A> at 260 Main St. E.</LI> <LI><A HREF="bl88_01.htm">Worldwide Beauty Supply</A> 137 King St. E.</LI> <LI><A HREF="bl88_03.htm">287 and 183 King St. E</A></LI> </UL> <H2><TT>12/13/2007</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">TRISKELE REMOVED FROM LIBRARY BOOK</FONT></H3> The Hamilton Public Library has removed an ink drawn triskele from <A HREF="oomr.htm"><CITE>Our own master race : eugenics in Canada 1885-1945</CITE></A>. <H2><TT>12/12/2007</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">SWASTIKA REMOVED FROM MOHAWK COLLEGE</FONT></H3> A large swastika has been painted over at the <A HREF="sw_socialservices.htm">Wentworh Campus of Mohawk College</A>. Elsewhere, a gang tag in an alley at <A HREF="bl88_02.htm"> King St. E. amd John St. N.</A> has been painted over. <P> In the same area, a fading swastika on the <A HREF="sw_bs.htm">NW corner of King Street East and Catherine Street</A> has been tagged over. <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">BALMORAL TAVERN DEMOLISHED</FONT></H3> The Balmoral Tavern, the site of numerous hate graffiti incidents, has been torn down. <UL> <LI> <A HREF="ftp_balmoral_02.htm">anti-police graffito</A> </LI> <LI> <A HREF="ftp_balmoral.htm">anti-police graffiti</A> </LI> <LI> <A HREF="kkkb.htm">racist graffito</A> </LI> </UL> <H2><TT>08/11/2007</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">ANTISEMITIC TAG AT UNIVERSITY PLAZA REMOVED</FONT></H3> The antisemitic tag at <A HREF="up_01.htm">University Plaza</A> has been removed due to prompt action taken by General Manager Ellen Kennedy. <H2><TT>08/08/2007</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">HATE TAGS REMOVED BEHIND 117 KING ST. EAST</FONT></H3> Alley doors behind <A HREF="crossstar_02.htm">117 King St. East</A> that were covered in assorted hate tags have been painted over. <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">ANTISEMITIC TAG AT UNIVERSITY PLAZA IN DUNDAS</FONT></H3> Hate graffiti incidents are not limited to downtown Hamilton; an antisemitic tag depicting a face with devil horns beneath the word Jew can be found at the corner of the Home Hardware sign at <A HREF="up_01.htm">University Plaza in Dundas</A>. <H2><TT>08/02/2007</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">HOMOPHOBIC TAG REMOVED</FONT></H3> Homophobic graffiti has been painted over (with many other tags) along the <A HREF="ertlr_01.htm">escarpment rail trail beneath Limeridge Road East</A>. This site has already been painted over several times. <H2><TT>07/25/2007</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">PLAQUE REPLACED AT ALBION FALLS</FONT></H3> A <A HREF="af_01.htm">plaque at Albion Falls</A> that was spray painted with the word <CITE>fag</CITE> has been replaced. <H2><TT>06/08/2007</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">SWASTIKA REMOVED FROM LISTER BLOCK</FONT></H3> A swastika that was painted on a window of <A HREF="sw_listerblock.htm">Lister Block</A> since at least 2005 has finally been removed. <H2><TT>05/19/2007</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">GANG TAGS INCORPORATE NEO-NAZI SYMBOLS</FONT></H3> Two recent gang graffiti incidents have included racist number symbols. Tags on <A HREF="bl88_01.htm">137 King Street East</A> and an <A HREF="bl88_02.htm">alley off John Street North behind King Street</A> feature Bloods graffiti incorporating the number <CITE>88</CITE>, which is a neo-Nazi coded abbreviation of <CITE>Heil Hitler</CITE>. <P> The <A HREF="http://www.adl.org/">Anti-Defamation League</A> has a comprehensive <A HREF="http://www.adl.org/hate_symbols/default.asp">visual database of hate symbols</A> with more information about <A HREF="http://www.adl.org/hate_symbols/numbers_88.asp">88</A>. <H2><TT>03/28/2007</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">ALLEY OF SWASTIKAS</FONT></H3> A <A HREF="sw_sher_01.htm">dead end alley near Sherman Avenue North and Cannon Street East</A> has 6 swastikas. <H2><TT>03/26/2007</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">B'NAI BRITH 2006 AUDIT OF ANTISEMITIC INCIDENTS</FONT></H3> According to <A HREF="http://www.bnaibrith.ca/">B'nai Brith Canada</A>, in 2006 there were 28 incidents of antisemitic vandalism reported in Regional Ontario, which excludes the Greater Toronto Area and Ottawa. During the same year, this web site documented <A HREF="hih_report_2006.htm#types2006" target="_top">13 graffiti incidents in Hamilton that featured swastikas, swastika variants and expressions of antisemitic sentiment</A>. <P> Read the <A HREF="http://www.bnaibrith.ca/pdf/audit2006.pdf">2006 Audit of Antisemitic Incidents - Patterns of Prejudice in Canada</A> (PDF). <H2><TT>02/25/2007</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">HATE IN HAMILTON 2006 REPORT</FONT></H3> The <A HREF="hih_report_2006.htm" target="_top">Hate in Hamilton 2006 Report</A> analyzes two years of data monitoring hate graffiti in the city. In 2006 36 incidents were documented, compared to 23 hate graffiti sites in 2005. The report identifies the emergence of anti-police graffiti and instances of hate graffiti that have remained up since at least 2005. <P> Read the <A HREF="hih_report_2006.htm" target="_top">Hate in Hamilton 2006 Report</A>. <H2><TT>01/03/2007</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">BIKE RACK WITH AN ANTISEMITIC TAG REMOVED</FONT></H3> A <A HREF="wviptj.htm">bike rack outside the Hamilton Farmers Market</A> with an antisemitic tag has been removed. <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">INCIDENTS OF HATE GRAFFITI TAGGED OVER AND WORN OFF</FONT></H3> A swastika outside the <A HREF="sw_wilson_02.htm">Cathedral High School parking lot on Wilson Street</A> has faded from exposure to the elements. A few blocks away a swastika and racist graffiti behind <A HREF="swng.htm">195 Wentworth St. North</A> has been tagged over. Further west in downtown, a racist tag has also been sprayed over behind <A HREF="dsn.htm">117 King St. East</A>. None of these incidents constitute a clean up. <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">HATE GRAFFITI ACCUMULATES NEAR SHERMAN AND BARTON</FONT></H3> Another <A HREF="cg02.htm">hate tag</A> appears in an <A HREF="cg.htm">alley off Sherman Avenue North</A>. <H2><TT>11/28/2006</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">ANTI-POLICE TAGS PAINTED OVER</FONT></H3> Numerous anti-police and homophobic tags have been painted over in <A HREF="ftp_ep.htm">Eastwood Park</A>. <H2><TT>11/10/2006</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">ANTI-POLICE GRAFFITI ACCUMULATES ON THE BALMORAL TAVERN</FONT></H3> Anti-police graffiti accumulates on the condemned premises of the <A HREF="ftp_balmoral_02.htm">Balmoral Tavern</A>. The intersection of <A HREF="ftp_balmoral.htm">King St. East and Wentworth St. North</A> remains neglected; <A HREF="kkkb.htm">racist</A>, <A HREF="gfbs.htm">homophobic</A> and <A HREF="bk.htm">gang</A> graffiti reinforce the depressed and violent atmosphere of this corner. <H2><TT>11/07/2006</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">HOMOPHOBIC GANG TAG PAINTED OVER</FONT></H3> A homophobic gang tag and other graffiti has been painted over on the <A HREF="kta_01.htm">Escarpment Rail Trail beneath Limeridge Road East</A>. <H2><TT>10/14/2006</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">SWASTIKAS REMOVED</FONT></H3> Swastika graffiti has been removed from the <A HREF="sw_fdb.htm">plaque on the Hamilton Memorial Clock Tower</A>. <H2><TT>09/06/2006</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">ODAL RUNE GRAFFITI</FONT></H3> <TABLE CELLSPACING=10 BORDER=0> <TR VALIGN="TOP"> <TD> <A HREF="rune311.htm"><IMG SRC="thumbnails/31100.jpg" BORDER=0 ALT="odal rune with 311"></A> </TD> <TD>A less well-known hate tag appears in an <A HREF="rune311.htm">alley behind 32 Leeming Street</A>. I was unconcerned about this Norse rune until I determined it is also a furtive white supremacist symbol. This interpretation is bolstered by the number <CITE>311</CITE> found beneath the rune, which refers to the Ku Klux Klan; K is the eleventh letter of the alphabet, hence <STRONG>3 x 11 = KKK</STRONG>. </TD> </TR> </TABLE> The <A HREF="http://www.adl.org/">Anti-Defamation League</A> has a comprehensive <A HREF="http://www.adl.org/hate_symbols/default.asp">visual database of hate symbols</A> with more information about <A HREF="http://www.adl.org/hate_symbols/numbers_311.asp">311</A> and the <A HREF="http://www.adl.org/hate_symbols/racist_odin_rune.asp">odal rune</A>. <H2><TT>08/31/2006</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">HATE GRAFFITI PAINTED OVER</FONT></H3> A huge hate graffiti mural (with other graffiti) leading into <A HREF="wds_kaydrage_park.htm">Kay Drage Park</A> has been painted over. <H2><TT>08/28/2006</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">NEW GRAFFITI ON THE ESCARPMENT RAIL TRAIL</FONT></H3> Anti-police graffiti has been tagged on <A HREF="swne.htm">a site along the escarpment rail trail</A> that already has Nazi graffiti. As well, graffiti continues to accumulate <A HREF="kta_01.htm">beneath Limeridge Road East</A> since a cleanup in April 2006, including a homophobic gang tag. <H2><TT>08/11/2006</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">SWASTIKA REMOVED</FONT></H3> A large swastika has been removed from the side of <A HREF="sw_fb.htm">a supermarket at Barton Street East and Mary Street</A>. <H2><TT>07/26/2006</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">MORE ANTI-POLICE TAGS PAINTED OVER</FONT></H3> More anti-police tags (and other graffiti) have been removed from <A HREF="ftp_ertw.htm">pillars beneath Claremont Access on the Escarpment Rail Trail</A>. I assume this is part of the <A HREF="http://www.myhamilton.ca/myhamilton/CityandGovernment/HotTopics/GraphittyPrevention.htm">Graffiti Prevention Strategy</A> initiated by the City of Hamilton. Hopefully GPS will also be able to remove the racist tag immediately west along the trail at <A HREF="swni.htm">195 Wellington St. South</A>. <H2><TT>07/19/2006</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">ANTI-POLICE TAG PAINTED OVER</FONT></H3> <TABLE CELLSPACING=10 BORDER=0> <TR> <TD> <A HREF="sw_wilson_03.htm"><IMG SRC="thumbnails/swwilson00.jpg" BORDER=0 ALT="swastika on bus stop at Wilson + Sanford"></A> </TD> <TD>Anti-police and other graffiti on a <A HREF="ftp_wilson_mb.htm">mailbox at Wilson Street and Sanford Ave. North</A> have been painted over. A <A HREF="sw_wilson_03.htm">swastika at the same corner</A> is still up. </TD> </TR> </TABLE> <H2><TT>06/18/2006</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS ARTICLE ABOUT HATE IN HAMILTON</FONT></H3> Police detective Steve Hahn reiterates City of Hamilton policy regarding 17 swastika graffiti incidents in 2005: <BLOCKQUOTE> <H4>"A swastika on the sidewalk is tantamount to hate. It's an offence, but it's not a hate crime," Hahn says. "It hurts, it hurts bad, but it's not a hate crime."</H4> - <A HREF="http://www.cjnews.com/viewarticle.asp?id=9491"><CITE>Website monitors swastika, gang and anti-police graffiti</CITE></A> by Abigail Cukier </BLOCKQUOTE> I am also quoted in the article along with Len Rudner, national director of community relations for the Canadian Jewish Congress who contends that a swastika on a newspaper box is not necessarily an act of hate: <BLOCKQUOTE> <H4>"...if Elie Wiesel were on the cover of the paper that day, you could say it was hate."</H4> </BLOCKQUOTE> Read the <A HREF="http://www.cjc.ca/ptemplate.php?action=itn&Story=1799">Canadian Jewish News article</A>. <H2><TT>06/13/2006</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">HOMOPHOBIC GRAFFITI REMOVED</FONT></H3> Homophobic graffiti has been painted over at <A HREF="sbbc.htm">74 Hughson Street South</A>. <H2><TT>06/07/2006</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">BUILDING DEMOLISHED - HATE GRAFFITI NEVER REMOVED</FONT></H3> Racist graffiti at <A HREF="alq.htm">185½ James Street North</A> was never removed before the building was demolished. <H2><TT>05/22/2006</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">CITY OF HAMILTON POLICY ON SWASTIKA GRAFFITI</FONT></H3> The following appeared in a Mountain News article on May 19, 2006: <BLOCKQUOTE><H4>...defacing property with a swastika is only considered a hate crime if it meets the definition. Of 25 complaints involving swastikas, only eight were judged to be hate-motivated. The majority of the remainder did not meet the test because they were accompanied by unrelated graffiti.</H4> - <A HREF="http://www.hamiltonmountainnews.com/hmn/news/news_583630.html"><CITE>Blacks still biggest victims as reported hate crimes drop</CITE></A> by Richard Leitner </BLOCKQUOTE> The article quotes Hamilton Mayor Larry Di Ianni, police Detective Steve Hahn of the Hate Crimes Unit and citizen board member Jane Mulkewich who explains: <BLOCKQUOTE> <H4>"...we have all these cases of people reporting a hate crime and then they're found not to be a hate crime."</H4> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P> Read the <A HREF="http://www.hamiltonmountainnews.com/hmn/news/news_583630.html">Mountain News article</A>. <H2><TT>05/16/2006</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">SWASTIKA CLEANUP IN PROGRESS</FONT></H3> An effort has been made to remove <A HREF="sw_hunter_02.htm">a swastika from 349 Hunter Street East</A>. Another swastika of a similar size is sprayed on Food Basics at <A HREF="sw_fb.htm">Barton Street East and Mary Street</A>. <H2><TT>05/08/2006</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">ANTI-POLICE GRAFFITI ON THE RISE</FONT></H3> <CITE>FTP</CITE> is an increasingly common tag around the city. It is an acronym for <CITE>Fuck Tha Police</CITE>, a song from 1988 by the hip hop group <CITE>NWA</CITE>. <UL> <LI> <A HREF="ftp_gp.htm">Gage Park</A> <TT><FONT COLOR="RED">CLEANUP IN PROGRESS</FONT></TT> </LI> <LI> <A HREF="bml.htm">Bell Manor Loop</A> </LI> <LI> <A HREF="ftp_03.htm">payphone at King St. E. + Ashley St.</A> <TT><FONT COLOR="RED">TAGGED OVER</FONT></TT> </LI> <LI> <A HREF="ftp_04.htm">Powell Park</A> <FONT COLOR="RED"><TT>TAG FADED</TT></FONT> </LI> <LI> <A HREF="ftp_cp.htm">Corktown Park</A> <FONT COLOR="RED"><TT>REMOVED</TT></FONT> </LI> <LI> <A HREF="ftp_ep.htm">Eastwood Park</A> <TT><FONT COLOR="RED">REMOVED</TT></FONT> </LI> <LI> <A HREF="ftp_wilson_mb.htm">mailbox at Wilson St. + Sanford Ave.</A> <TT><FONT COLOR="RED">REMOVED</FONT></TT> </LI> <LI> <A HREF="ftp_balmoral.htm">Balmoral Tavern</A> <FONT COLOR="RED"><TT>BUILDING DEMOLISHED</TT></FONT> </LI> <LI> <A HREF="ftp_ertw.htm">Escarpment Rail Trail beneath Claremont Access</A> <TT><FONT COLOR="RED">REMOVED</FONT></TT> </LI> <LI> <A HREF="swne.htm">Escarpment Rail Trail east of Kenilworth Access</A> </LI> <LI> <A HREF="ftp_balmoral_02.htm">Balmoral Tavern</A> <TT><FONT COLOR="RED">TAGS ACCUMULATING</FONT></TT> </LI> <LI> <A HREF="ftp_wynne.htm">Ivor Wynne Stadium</A> <FONT COLOR="RED"><TT>REMOVED</TT></FONT> </LI> </UL> <H2><TT>04/25/2006</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">B'NAI BRITH 2005 AUDIT OF ANTISEMITIC INCIDENTS</FONT></H3> According to <A HREF="http://www.bnaibrith.ca/">B'nai Brith Canada</A> in 2005 78 antisemitic incidents were reported in regional Ontario, which excludes the Greater Toronto Area and Ottawa. They "represented an increase of 32.2% when compared to 2004. This is an aberration from the national overall decrease". 40 of those incidents in regional Ontario were vandalism. In 2005 this web page reported 16 sites with swastika graffiti just in Hamilton. <P> Read the <A HREF="http://www.bnaibrith.ca/audit2005.html">2005 Audit of Antisemitic Incidents</A>. <H2><TT>04/19/2006</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">SWASTIKA REMOVED</FONT></H3> A swastika has been painted over (with many other tags) on a <A HREF="sw_ert_bridge_02.htm">bridge along the escarpment rail trail</A>. Graffiti was also painted over further on the trail beneath Limeridge Road East. <H2><TT>04/04/2006</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">SWASTIKA REMOVED</FONT></H3> The swastika behind the <A HREF="sw_cork.htm">Corktown Tavern</A> has been painted over. <H2><TT>03/17/2006</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">SWASTIKA CLEANUP IN PROGRESS</FONT></H3> Swastikas have been scratched out of a stencil on a traffic light box outside the <A HREF="sw_goso.htm">Robert Thompson Building on 110 King Street West</A>. The same stencil however is still intact at the transit mall on Macnab Street. <H2><TT>03/17/2006</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">SWASTIKA CLEANUP IN PROGRESS</FONT></H3> Swastikas have been scratched out of a stencil on a traffic light box outside the <A HREF="sw_goso.htm">Robert Thompson Building on 110 King Street West</A>. The same stencil however is still intact at the transit mall on Macnab Street. <H2><TT>03/12/2006</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">SWASTIKA CLEANUP IN PROGRESS</FONT></H3> A swastika has been removed from a concrete block at a vacant lot on <A HREF="sw_century.htm">Century Street</A>. The swastika on the sidewalk nearby however is still up. <P> Elsewhere, a swastika has been painted over on a <A HREF="sw_ert_bridge.htm">bridge along the escarpment rail trail</A>. <H2><TT>01/22/2006</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">GANG GRAFFITI</FONT></H3> Incidents of gang related graffiti have escalated throughout Hamilton. Although I do not typically document such graffiti here, I will include any which incite violence against an <A HREF="bk.htm">identifiable group</A> or <A HREF="cg.htm">promote hate</A>. <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">HATE GRAFFITI REMOVED</FONT></H3> A door has been cut through a wall which used to have <A HREF="caq.htm">homophobic graffiti</A>. Other homophobic graffiti has also been painted over on <A HREF="dfrr.htm">Canadian Pacific property</A>. <H2><TT>12/04/2005</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">HATE GRAFFITI CLEANUP IN PROGRESS</FONT></H3> <P> Anti-police graffiti has been removed from an <A HREF="caq.htm">alley behind Ashley Street</A>. The homophobic graffiti at the same site has not been removed yet. <H2> <TT>10/23/2005</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">CROSSSTAR GRAFFITI</FONT></H3> <TABLE CELLSPACING=10 BORDER=0> <TR> <TD> <A HREF="crossstar_01.htm"><IMG SRC="thumbnails/csss_00.jpg" BORDER=0 ALT="crossstar"></A> </TD> <TD> A more furtive hate symbol appears. I had ignored <A HREF="crossstar_01.htm" TARGET="sw_content">this tag</A> until I came across this BBC article: <BR> <BR> <A HREF="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2131214.stm">Racism on the rise in Russia</A> </TD> </TR> </TABLE> <H2> <TT>10/01/2005</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">MORE SWASTIKAS REMOVED</FONT></H3> <H2> <TT>07/31/2005</TT></H2> <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">SWASTIKAS REMOVED</FONT></H3> <P> On July 8 2005 I phoned city hall to report hate graffiti. My call was immediately transferred to the police department. I spoke to officer Jacobson and provided this web address as a resource for finding the swastikas. On July 18 2005 Detective Steve Hahn from the hate crime unit contacted me to review the locations indicated on these maps. The swastikas have since been removed due to the response by the police. <H3><FONT COLOR="RED">THIS PAGE HAS A NEW TITLE</FONT></H3> This page was originally called <CITE>Swastikas of Hamilton</CITE>. The new title reflects the broad range of hate that exists in our city. <BR> </BODY>