Racist graffiti on Winnipeg community centre upsets parents

Parentsin Winnipeg's Valley Gardens area are upset to see racial slurs, includingthe N-word, spray-painted on the neighbourhoodcommunity centre twice in the past week.

The offensive graffiti has since been removed from an ice rink warming hut at the Valley Gardens Community Centre, but not before it was seen by children, parents, teachers and daycare workers.

Several people told CBC News that before city crews arrived to paint it over on Wednesday morning, the message,"That wasn't a hate crime. I just don't like n---gers"was visible on the walls."

One parent whose childgoes to Valley Gardens Middle School told CBC News he first saw "f--k n---gers" and other derogatory remarks spray-painted on the community centre while he was driving in the neighbourhood last weekend.

"It was the N-word of all N-words and I'm not even talking about 'no,' which some kids would think that's the worst word that they ever heard," said the parent, a hip-hop artist who goes by the MC name Bubba B.

Bubba B, who also mentors children in the neighbourhood, said he captured video of what he saw and posted it on YouTube to get people talking about fighting racism in the community.

He also complained to the city, which sent a crew to repaint the walls on Monday afternoon. However, thegraffiti returned two days later.

"It's hurtful and it's specific," said Bubba B.

He added that near the community centre, there are "an elementary school, a junior high school, a high school and a daycare. Thousands of children are in this little area."

Bubba B said many of the students likely saw the racist graffiti, and that concerns him even more.

"Now I'm starting to think, 'Oh, hmm, so there's somebody out there that doesn't like my child,'" he said.

Another parent, Noni Bodnar, said she was shocked when she saw the graffiti on Monday.

"It's so embarrassing for the community, for the neighbourhood, for the city!" she said.

Bodnar said she worries about the impact the graffiti may have on the many immigrants who call the Valley Gardens neighbourhood their home.

"I can't say I'm surprised only becauseI don't think that the communities come together in acceptingthe diversity that we have in this neighbourhood," she said.