HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979 10-03 Anti-black graffiti causes alarm THE REVIEW St.�'Paurl.2Ogt ' WED.,OCT.3, 1979
Anti-black g raffiti
causes alarm
By MELANIE WAAGE the unrest in St.Paul two months ago,the
And SUANNE MOTL similar graffiti spraying of the Urban
League Building(two months ago)and
Recent incidents of racial defamation in this incident,you realize this is not an
Maplewood and North St.Paul have local isolated incident."
residents wondering if anti-black The membership in the KKK(Ku Klux
organizations exist in their midst. Klan)is growing in the nation,Haynes
GRAFFITI SPRAYED on shop walls said, and could be locally. "This is a
and stickers warning against black statement of the growing economic
persons were the cause for concern. problem in the nation, and people are
Sept.23 Maplewood officers on patrol looking for a scapegoat.
observed a number of slogans spray- "I view this as an extremely serious
painted on the walls of Zayres Shopper's problem.The NAACP is reviewing the
City,1790 VanDyke Ave.,and the Plaza situation for ramifications. There are
Theater, 1897 E. Larpenteur Ave. The serious problems developing in group
graffiti included "No Busing," "No relations. The good people in the area
Blacks on Eastside," "White Power," must realize something is happening.
"Be Proud KKK," "No Niggers on Awareness is the key."
Eastside"and"White Pride Day,Nov.11 The Minnesota-Dakota conference of
(Veterans Day),1979." the NAACP is Oct. 27 in Rochester.
According to Dick Schaller,director of Haynes is involved in the program
public safety in Maplewood,no one has planning and will include a discussion of
claimed responsibility for the action. the recent incidents in Maplewood.
Normally,such an action is usually at- SEVERAL PERSONS who live or work
tributable to a specific organization,he in North St.Paul told the Review they had
said. found stickers and other material on
"We just don't have such an public property.The material promotes
organization in Maplewood, at least I national socialism and"warns"against
don't know of any,"Schaller said.He said black persons.
he also didn't know of any unrest in the North St.Paul police reported that they
area.It is possible people came over from have not received any direct complaints
the east side of St.Paul,not knowing they about stickers or other propaganda being
were in Maplewood, Schaller added. adhered to public property.They noted
There were similar occurrences in the St. that placing the material on public
Paul area over two months ago. property such as signs is a misdemeanor
BUT,AMOS HAYNES,a Maplewood offense.
resident and current treasurer of the Anyone found guilty of defacing or
National Association for the Advan- destroying public property faces paying
cement of Colored People(NAACP),says for the damage to the property or
it is something to be concerned about. replacement of the signs or other
"I don't think this is something we property.
should let go lightly," Haynes said, North St.Paul city manager Bob Gatti
referring to the graffiti incidents.He said said he is not aware of any complaints
the actions are"sympathetic of a national about such material,but hopes the recent
plan of such organizations." incidents were isolated.
When Haynes first moved to . Rev.Jim Cook,president of the North
Maplewood in 1960,there were incidents St. Paul Ministerial Assn.; told the
of a cross burning and a black cat tied up Review he was not aware of any persons
by its tail and thrown into his front yard. belonging to such an association and none
Things have quieted down since those of the members of his congregation had
days,but according to Haynes,it could be mentioned anything about finding anti-
on the rise again. black materials in the community.
"Last week when I was riding the bus Maplewood police have no lead on
on Payne Avenue,I saw a Nazi sign on a parties responsible in the graffiti in-
telephone pole. The reason it is of cidents.The action is a misdemeanor and
significance is because it was so punishable with a fine of$500 and-or 90
professionally done.And when you look at days in jail.