‘No more Chinese’ graffiti in San Francisco prompts hate crime investigation

The same three-word message has cropped up in recent days on walls and fences around San Francisco: “No more Chinese.”

Scrawled in orange spray paint, the message has generated disgust and alarm on social media, and police on Sunday said the vandalism has triggered a hate crime investigation.

So far, the graffiti has been reported in at least five locations, including in the Bayview District and in the Portola neighborhood, said Officer Grace Gatpandan of the San Francisco Police Department. Officers have also confirmed the graffiti on an abandoned grocery store and a public playground, she said.

Vickie Chau first posted a photo of a vandalized fence near McLaren Park on Sunday after she said her dad spotted the orange graffiti.

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“I’ve seen graffiti in my neighborhood before, but never with this type of message,” Chau told KPIX-TV Channel 5. “Overall, based on the messages I’ve received, the community has been supportive and want to find the culprit.”

It’s unclear when the vandalism first appeared. The blog Angry Asian Man found a photograph by Google Street View of a door near Holyoke Street and Silver Avenue that showed the same graffiti about two months ago.

For breaking news in California, follow @MattHjourno.

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