Protest held against racist graffiti in city

FURTHER racist graffiti could appear in Cardiff unless action is taken, politicians and campaigners have warned.

Dozens gathered in protest last night, days after Nazi slogans and homophobic abuse was painted on walls in Cardiff Bay.

On Friday a swastika sign and the word “nazizone” were found graffitied on walls near Roald Dahl Plas.

The homophobic slur f****** was also sprayed on boarding promoting the The Lady Boys of Bangkok show.

In response to the graffiti around 30 members of Stand up to Racism Cardiff and other LGBT and anti-fascism campaign groups met to demonstrate on the steps of the Welsh Assembly.

Last month Nazi swastika sign and other racist material appeared on walls in Grangetown the day before the Cardiff March Against Racism.

Neo-Nazi posters were also found up in Cathays in October.

Speaking at the event, Joe Redmond, joint secretary of Stand up to Racism Cardiff, said he believed a “fringe group” of banned neoNazi group National Action could be responsible for the graffiti.

He said: “With the swastikas they are not trying to appeal to wider groups they are clearly serious extremists.

“We believe all three incidents are the same people.”

Speaking at the demonstration AM for Cardiff Central Jenny Rathbone said she feared similar graffiti would be found again. She said: “I am very pleased the graffiti daubed up last week was cleared very quickly but we really do have do continue to promote a tolerant society which respects people for their race, gender identity, sexual orientation.”

During the demonstration Cardiff resident Xenia Brunel said the graffiti had left some people feeling “uneasy”.

Xenia said: “I’m of Jewish and Polish heritage so when I saw it on the media on Friday afternoon it affected me. It reminded me on my family who lost their lives at Auschwitz concentration camp.

“When I see swastikas and that graffiti it brings back memories of lost relatives.

On Friday South Wales Police said foot patrols would be increased in the area after the incident.

A Cardiff council spokesman said: “We condemn all graffiti in the strongest possible terms and the offensive graffiti has now been removed.”

Anyone with information can contact South Wales Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting *136830.