Sound familiar? It does to me.

Racist graffiti scrawled in bathroom of Stratford city hall Wed, October 22, 2008
By JOE BELANGER, SUN MEDIA

Two men are charged after a washroom at Stratford city hall was defaced with racist images and slurs in what police describe as a "deplorable" hate crime.

"It's deplorable that someone in today's society would make such derogatory comments against any race or religion and the courts have been tough on these crimes and I expect they'll see a very, very stiff penalty," said Insp. Sam Theocharis.

Police said two men entered the washroom on the bottom floor Tuesday and covered the walls in racial slurs written in white chalk that demeaned several races and religious groups. There was also a "hang man" drawing with a racial slur against blacks and a happy face beside the stick image of a person being hanged.

Witnesses who entered the bathroom before and after the two men entered and left the washroom were interviewed, police said.

An angry Stratford Mayor Dan Matheson said he was sickened by the images.

"I'm alarmed by it," said Matheson. "I saw the information written on the wall and it's beyond reprehensible. It speaks to the lack of understanding these people possess as to what this community is all about - a diverse community, one that embraces different cultures, races and religions."

Matheson said he's heard of other racial slurs written at locations around the city, but it was always the work of misguided juveniles.

"This is the first time these kinds of words have been put in place with such an alarming boldness," said Matheson. "These people wanted to make a statement."

A video-surveillance camera led police to the suspects.

Both men — who are known to police and whose names weren't released since the charges have yet to be sworn — are charged with mischief and breach of probation.

-Joe Belanger is a Free Press reporter.

London Free Press