HORRIFIC

California Statue of Martin Luther King Jr. Defaced With Swastikas

“This hate and desecration has no place in our city,” Mayor Robert Garcia tweeted after the incident.

The Long Beach Police Department says it has opened a hate crime investigation after a statue of Martin Luther King Jr. was vandalized with hate symbols over the weekend. A photo posted online shows the statue of Dr. King defaced with a swastika and SS bolts. Mayor Robert Garcia told members of the California community that police are working to find those responsible. “Our MLK statue is a symbol of hope and justice for the community,” he said in a tweet. “This hate and desecration has no place in our city.” In response to the vandalism, a local group called AOC7 Neighborhood Group, hosted a rally to peacefully protest the act, with members of the small crowd holding signs that read “No Room for Hate in Long Beach” and “White Silence Is Violence.”