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Racist graffiti in Kitimat

"White power" was found spray painted on the side of the Haisla Pentecostal Assembly building.
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Racist graffiti was discovered at the Haisla Pentecostal Assembly building last week

“That kind of stuff doesn’t belong in the time we’re in.”

That’s what Pastor Dan Martin had to say after graffiti reading “white power” was found on the sign of his church, the Haisla Pentecostal Assembly, on Tweedsmuir Ave.

The graffiti was reported to the RCMP on September 25 by a board member of the church. Sgt. Graham Morgan said that the file remains open, and anyone who may have information about the act of mischief is asked to come forward.

Martin wants the perpetrator or perpetrators to know that the congregation isn’t angry.

“We forgive their ignorance,” he added.

“I think the majority of us just thought it was more a kid thing, (I) haven’t really heard any comments about thinking it was a hate crime,” he said.

Martin said the church has taken down the vandalized sign and is getting a new one in the coming weeks.

It’s unclear if the act would be prosecuted as a hate crime, but mischief relating to religious property is classified as one under the Criminal Code of Canada, section 430.4.1.