MARCH 9, 2016 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
NEWS + SPORT + THE WEST’S BEST PROPERTY GUIDE
Wipe-out for racist graffiti By Benjamin Millar
West Footscray children joined in the graffiti clean-up. (Amy Newman)
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Fun and frivolity were the order of the day as Seddon Festival spilled into the streets on Saturday. Entertainers such as Rebecca Barnard, Stephen Cummings, The Mercurials and Ash Archer kept toes tapping, while a dog fashion show was a highlight for many. Casa Di Tutti won the Great Waiters Race, a hotly contested event fast becoming a festival favourite. Ben Millar
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“We worked on a couple of shop fronts, including Tandoori Flames and Dosa Corner, and the Chinese building on the corner of Clarke Street,” she said. “The owner of Tandoori Flames was most grateful for our help in removing it.” Aangan set up a “unite against racism” wall in the restaurant after the attack, attracting dozens of messages of support. Maribyrnong mayor Cameron McDonald slammed those responsible for the graffiti, saying race-based attacks targeting multicultural areas was a serious concern. “People should go straight to Crimestoppers; it’s a race crime,” he said. “But it’s a really good sign that the community cares about these things.” Victoria Police spokeswoman Belinda Batty said police were aware of the graffiti and had begun investigating. “Victoria Police takes all crime seriously, including that which is motivated by prejudice, racism or discrimination,” she said. “We ask anyone who witnesses, or is subject to, racism, discrimination or victimisation on the basis of religion, culture or ethnicity, to inform Victoria Police.”
(Luke Hemer)
West Footscray business owners have praised residents who came together to quickly wipe out a racist weekend graffiti attack on shopfronts and properties. Swastikas and white supremacist slogans were sprayed onto a number of stores and restaurants on Barkly Street in the early hours of Saturday. Fences on residential Clarke Street were also daubed. After calls by residents to police and Maribyrnong council’s graffiti hotline failed to spur action, residents took matters into their own hands and descended on the shopping strip to scrub out the swastikas and slogans such as ‘‘white power’’ and ‘‘immigrant scum’’. Businesses attacked in the graffiti blitz included Thai Angels and Indian restaurants Aangan, Dosa Corner and Tandoori Flames. Resident Brett Long, who spearheaded the clean-up response, said he wanted to show that locals overwhelmingly supported the businesses and the area’s multicultural identity. “On one hand you could leave it there and they could feel unwelcome or you could show the exact counter to the hatred and clean it off,” he said. “A bunch of families were down there cleaning all the shops. It’s symbolic, showing these people we won’t stand for this kind of thing. “We’re no heroes; we’re just living out our values.” Amy Newman and her family were quickly on site to help with the clean-up. She said people were left disgusted by the attack and quickly banded together to help.