A custodian last Saturday discovered hateful graffiti scrawled in a restroom at Burlington’s Fletcher Free Library that included a swastika and the racial epithet “Die niggers,” according to city officials.
Library director Mary Danko and Mayor Miro Weinberger condemned the act as hate speech in a statement issued Friday.
The custodian took a photo of the graffiti and then painted over it, according to Katie Vane, the mayor’s communications and projects coordinator. The library employee told Danko about the graffiti when he saw her on Tuesday, and the library director immediately notified the Burlington Police Department.
“Hate speech of any kind in Burlington is unacceptable,” Weinberger said in his statement. “It undermines our work to be a welcoming and inclusive community for all, and threatens the diversity that enriches our community. Such an act is particularly troubling when it occurs at our public library, a cornerstone of our democracy that offers free access to information and encourages intellectual freedom and freedom of speech.
“Our library is and must be a safe and welcoming place for everyone,” said Danko. “Like public libraries across the nation, our library exists to provide open access to information and ideas in the pursuit of intellectual and personal freedom. This access to knowledge is fundamental to our democracy. Our support of free speech does not translate into tolerance for hate speech.”
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wait. graffiti is news?
BREAKING NEWS: I saw this poem written on the bathroom wall at 3 Needs: “Here I sit broken-hearted, came to poop but only farted.” I await Mayor Weinberger’s comment on the matter.
It wasn’t just graffiti. It’s a sad and hateful reminder that some people feel better about themselves when they look down on others because of the color of their skin. Instead of getting better, the culture of racism is getting worse. Mocking from an ivory tower of privilege is fine, until it’s some attribute of yours somebody doesn’t like. Intolerance comes in lots of different packages.
Thing is who’s to say that this graffiti isn’t written by the person who is just want to make themselves to look like the victims???? It’s been done..remember the one that sent emails about killing certain people and listed names and included his own..
The mayor of Burlington made a speech about bathroom graffiti? That’s a thing that’s actually happening?
Was this found above the pile of needles that can often be found in the library bathrooms?
Also, “Donna Boutin”, a swastika was drawn by people who want to look like victims? Are you joking, or are you really that dense?
The library has become a homeless hotel of sorts. In addition to the pile of needles one finds in the bathroom, a photo originally published with this article pictured a homeless person sleeping on the floor. Seems one can learn all sorts of things at the Fletcher library.
We bring to you tonight live updates of the pencil graffiti epidemic striking the heart of once was a peaceful Burlington,VT. Sources confirmed last night that a confidential informant working undercover as a schizophrenic unemployed dish washer inhabiting stall number three of Burlington’s public library, confirmed reports “Hetero is Bettero” chicken scratches were indeed found…..later tonight live interview with National Emotion Protection Agency’s very own Chuck Brokeback Goulet aka. “Lizzy”