Artwork dedicated to Japanese Americans incarcerated in WWII was discovered vandalized on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Seattle's Chinatown-International District. Jeff Liang, Interim Executive Director with Chinatown International District's Business Improvement Area (CID-BIA) was alerted of the defacement on Monday, Jan. 20th., in Nihonmachi Alley, the Japantown area of CID. It is unclear when the vandalism happened or who committed the act.
A CID resident saw the mural was smeared in black paint and it had some Bible verses written on it. The vandalism is being discussed among advocacy groups such as OCA Greater Seattle - Asian Pacific American Advocates. "So earlier, we googled what the verses are actually supposed to mean, and we can't really find a connection," said Stella Liu, a UW student and intern for OCA Greater Seattle.
As of Tuesday morning, Liang with CID-BIA says crews have already cleaned up the graffiti and he is working with the building's owner in Nihonmachi Alley to file a police report.
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