Walkway artwork vandalized with hateful graffiti
Police are investigating damage and hateful messaging applied to artwork in the pedestrian underground tunnel that connects South and North Railway Streets.
The graffiti included hateful phrases, hateful messaging and swastikas, said Insp. Joe West, Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS).
“From my experience and what I do know about this graffiti, this is a hateful, foolish, despicable, criminal act by probably one or two people. I don’t think it is any sort of organized group or anything like that,” said West. “The bottom line is, whatever the messaging it’s a foolish despicable criminal act.”
It was likely designed for shock value and to get attention, said West.
This tunnel has recently been the focus of beautification with new art work that several groups were responsible for.
Much of the new art had gone up the May 25 weekend, making it particularly difficult to fathom the recent destruction, says Dina Jubrak, a member of Street Art Works Association.
It likely stems from “confusion, misunderstanding and rebellion unleashed in the wrong direction,” said Jubrak.
“This is the community. This is exactly the people that would support you if you’re in distress or invite you to come out and put your art there as part of the community,” said Jubrak. “It is baffling that people would like to hurt us rather than join us.”
On Tuesday, MHPS received a report of graffiti damage and are actively investigating. The graffiti may have occurred sometime overnight between June 18 and June 19, according to a MHPS press release.
Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call MHPS at 403-529-8481 or through Crime Stoppers 1-800222-8477.
Because people in vehicles driving by cannot see into the tunnel it has been a target for vandals in the past.
Typically though, when nice artwork goes up, graffiti stays away, said West.
“If you put up good art work it doesn’t tend to get vandalized ... so this is a bit unusual that somebody would deface and vandalize,” said West.
Street Art Works Association has recently had funding approved by the City to purchase and install safety mirrors at each end of the tunnel. This would provide a view of the tunnel without having to go down the stairs and in.
“If I can see you there, it is way harder to hide,” she explained.
Additional security measures are also being considered, said Jubrak.
West says MHPS does include foot patrols in the area when discretionary time allows. This summer, police hope to have mountain bike team members checking the area, too.
The tunnel is still considered a safe area to be walking through, he said.
The good news is there has already been a tremendous response from the community who have helped to restore the art work that was damaged. It was important to get it cleaned up as quickly as possible to deter any further graffiti, said Jubrak. It has been the appropriate response to a negative act.