By Joe Anuta
Lawmakers denounced racist graffiti left on a Flushing storefront that will house the future Mitchell-Linden branch of the Queens Public Library as well as a van parked nearby belonging to a Chinese newspaper and offered a cash reward to try and help find the perpetrator.
“This kind of disgusting display of bigotry has no place in our community,” said state Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky (D-Whitestone). “I hope and have confidence that the NYPD and the attorney general’s office will investigate this hate crime, arrest the perpetrators and bring them to justice.”
The graffiti, consisting of a racial slur directed at Asian Americans, was written in white paint on the building at 31-32 Union Street.
The epithet was discovered Sunday afternoon and reported to police Monday, when it was also cleaned.
“It is truly frightening to see this kind of racial intolerance in our community of Queens,” said state Assemblywoman Grace Meng (D-Flushing). “Queens holds one of the most diverse communities in the country and this kind of behavior should not be tolerated.”
The same slur was also written on a van belonging to the World Journal, a national Chinese-language newspaper in the country with offices in Whitestone.
“It is a shame that in this day and age, when New York City is flooded with diversity, people still hold on to negative feelings towards people who are different,” City Councilman Peter Koo (D-Flushing) said. “We must come together to make the city a safe place for everybody and to abolish the outdated racist sentiments that some of our city’s residents still hold onto.”
The trio of lawmakers are offering $500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the crime.
Anyone with information can contact the 109th Precinct.
Reach reporter Joe Anuta by e-mail at januta@gmail.com or by phone at 718-260-4566.
