Tuscany LRT station hit with racist graffiti
WARNING: Offensive images and language
Calgary Transit responded to some disturbing graffiti at the Tuscany LRT Station Thursday night.
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Bhaveek Makan posted three images to Twitter Thursday evening showing spray painted comments disparaging to Syrian refugees and Muslims.
He says a friend took the photos but he drove to the LRT station to see them first-hand.
"Just a lot of ignorance and bad spelling," Makan said. "It's a really heartbreaking thing to see.... It's just sad."
'Very disappointed'
Several motorists had their cars spray painted, including Tuscany resident Brian Durocher.
"I have lived in Canada all of my life and we are a very tolerant society at least I think we are. To see things like that written on the side of my car, I am just very disappointed," Durocher said.
"This doesn't help, this just creates fear and I don't get it."
Calgary Transit spokesman Ron Collins says peace officers are dealing with it.
"We're moving very quickly. We will eradicate that graffiti ASAP," Collins said. "This is obviously unacceptable and we will be fully investigating when and why this happened."
'Disgusting,' says mayor
Mayor Naheed Nenshi tweeted about the incident shortly after the pictures surfaced, calling it "disgusting."
<a href="https://twitter.com/buzzbishop">@buzzbishop</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TehBhav">@TehBhav</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/calgarytransit">@calgarytransit</a> the spelling or the sentiment? Both are disgusting.
—@nenshiIt comes as Calgary prepares for the arrival of about 500 Syrian refugees by the end of the year as part of the federal government's resettlement plan.
<a href="https://twitter.com/CBCCalgary">@CBCCalgary</a> This is a threat of violence and should be taken seriously. We expect the <a href="https://twitter.com/CalgaryPolice">@CalgaryPolice</a> to investigate as possible hate crime.
—@AmnamaqCalgary police say they are investigating the incidents and have obtained video surveillance images from Calgary transit of possible suspects.
"At this time we believe this is an isolated incident," acting Sgt. Ray Kelly said.
But for Makan, who is agnostic, the graffiti doesn't change how he feels about Calgary.
"The city as a whole is amazing when it comes to accepting the refugees," Makan said.
"We are a welcoming city, this is what I think, and little things like this shouldn't paint a bad image on the city."