Swastikas, graffiti spray-painted on North Island-Powell River NDP candidate’s office in Comox

Swastikas, graffiti spray-painted on North Island-Powell River NDP candidate’s office in Comox
CHEK

The campaign office of the North Island-Powell River NDP candidate was spray-painted with swastikas and other graffiti this past weekend.

The windows of Rachel Blaney’s office, which is located in Comox, was covered with red and black spray paint showing swastikas, genitalia and different words, including Blaney’s name and “Libs 4 Life.”

Swastikas and other graffiti on Rachel Blaney’s office on Sept. 14, 2019. (Submitted)

Blaney said employees at the A&W next to the office called campaign organizer Kristy Bell on Saturday morning, at around 6:30 a.m., to let her know that the office was spray-painted sometime overnight Friday.

“It was really devastating and really hard for the many volunteers who are in the campaign office working hard every day to help us win this election,” Blaney said.

Comox Valley RCMP are investigating the incident, Blaney said.

Campaign staff and volunteers, as well as other community members, helped to remove the graffiti the same day. Blaney was in Port Hardy that day but said it was amazing to hear about everyone coming together.

Thank you to the amazing people who came out to help clean up. I am so grateful to all the people who helped. Kristy…

Posted by Rachel Blaney for North Island – Powell River MP on Saturday, September 14, 2019

“It was beautiful, the amount of volunteers that came out of the woodwork right away, showed up ready to work and helped us clean the space up,” Blaney said, adding some of the A&W workers also came over to help.

“It was just a really strong community effort.”

Blaney said there has been vandalism in the community but the incident was still shocking as she and other staff had never seen anything like it at a political office in the Comox Valley.

“The community outpouring has also been very supportive. People just saying regardless of our party stripes, we know that we’re all in this as one community and we don’t want to see anyone disrespected,” Blaney said.

She hopes that the community response deters anyone else from repeating the vandalism and helps people understand that elections are a part of democracy.

“I can’t begin to understand why somebody chose to do this to this office,” Blaney said.

“I don’t know if it was politically motivated. I know that it was really concerning to see the swastikas on the window. Regardless of what people’s intention may be, they need to understand that is a symbol that all of us should be concerned about seeing and we should stand against that kind of hate.”

Peter Schwarzhoff, the Liberal candidate for North Island-Powell River, said he is appalled by the “senseless act of vandalism.”

“When I saw the pictures my first thought was for the impact this might have on the volunteers. They should feel safe when actively participating in democracy,” Schwarzhoff said.

“We have gotten used to having signs destroyed, one was even set on fire, but this takes vandalism to a new, frightening level.”

The federal election is Monday, Oct. 21. The other candidates for North Island-Powell River are Conservative candidate Shelley Downey, Green candidate Mark de Brujin, People’s Party of Canada candidate Brian Rundle and Marxist-Leninist candidate Carla Neal.

Blaney is the incumbent for the riding.

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