Palo Alto police investigate hate crime after swastika found on sidewalk
PALO ALTO, Calif. - Police in Palo Alto are investigating a hate crime after a swastika was found spray-painted on a sidewalk over the weekend.
The vandalism was reported at about 8:45 p.m. Sunday, when a caller told police he discovered the swastika near Alexander Peers Park at 1899 Park Blvd.
Police said Monday that the swastika had been spray-painted with white paint, about 15 inches long. Public Works Department crews were called and painted over it that evening.
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Captain James Reifshneider of the Palo Alto Police Department said, "In this particular case, when the subject of the graffiti is so inherently offensive, we have to treat it as a hate crime, unless we can find evidence that proves the contrary."
Reifshneider confirmed his department hasn't received any similar reports of vandalism, and shared that his department has not seen an uptick in this type of crime.
In downtown Palo Alto, Felipe Gianetti admitted he was shocked to hear about the swastika being painted near the park. He said, "We’re living in a strange time in this world, but it shouldn’t happen here in the Bay Area where we have different people from all over the world."
Venisius Oliveira also reacted to the incident with shock. He said, "I’m also surprised because adversity is what brought Silicon Valley together. We see great companies being built by different people from all over the world."
Palo Alto Police are still investigating this case and ask for anyone with information to contact them.