Racist, anti-Semitic graffiti in Pasadena prompt call for unity

In the wake of two incidents of racist graffiti in Pasadena, city leaders, police and residents met at the Rose Bowl on Saturday to share information and reduce tension in the community.

With about 50 people attending the meeting in the stadium's home-team locker room, the discussion  focused not only on the graffiti incidents but also on fostering unity, as members of local community outreach groups spoke to the crowd.

In the latest incident, on Aug. 8, 22 properties on Washington Boulevard from Lincoln Avenue to past  Los Robles Avenue were tagged with swastikas and a variety of racist, homophobic and anti-Semitic statements.

Pasadena Police Cmdr. Darryl Qualls said it was important for the community to foster a sense of connection between all groups. “People think these incidents are because our cultures and our races don't get along,” Qualls said.

-- Daniel Siegel, Times Community News

Photo: Pasadena Police Chief Phillip Sanchez watches as businesswoman Debera Penman speaks at a meeting about recent racist graffiti in Pasadena. Credit: Raul Roa / Times Community News