Vandals Cover Collins Cove Seawall In Salem With Racist Graffiti

SALEM, MA -- Police are investigating racist graffitti, including swastikas, that was painted on the Collins Cove Seawall and discovered Tuesday morning. Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll said in a statement that the city's Department of Public Works would work with neighbors and other volunteers to repaint the wall and that the vandalism "must be condemned in the strongest possible terms."

"This incident is evidence that no community, even one as welcoming as Salem, is immune from hatred and that we must remain ever vigilant in denouncing these acts and in supporting efforts to combat bigotry and hatred in any form," Driscoll said. "We must be tireless in our efforts to bridge our differences and continue to support each other within the diverse, vibrant community that we are fortunate enough to call home."

The incident brought widespread rebuke from residents and officials on social media Tuesday. The seawall had recently been repainted as part of regular maintenance of the town-owned property.

"Amazing and horrid that there are still people out there who do this crap," Ward 5 City Councillor Josh Turiel posted on Facebook. "Whoever you are, you don't belong in our city."

Anyone with information or who may have been in the Collins Cove park or path area last night is being asked to contact the Salem Police Department at 978-744-1212.

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Patch file photo via Shutterstock.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).