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Passerby was so offended he decided to cover up racial slur on Chilliwack election sign

He went to a nearby house and borrowed some tape so he could remove the offensive graffiti
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A racial slur was covered over by a concerned passerby who took offence to it on an election sign in Chilliwack. (Submitted)

An election sign defaced with a racial slur in Chilliwack Wednesday was quickly covered over.

Louis De Jaeger, who is running for a seat on city council, had one of his billboard signs vandalized while he was hosting his campaign fundraiser.

“This incident does not break the spirit of our community,” De Jaeger said. “It only strengthens it.”

The council candidate, who ran for a federal seat in 2015, was a little confused about the obvious message of hate.

READ MORE: Anti-racist message painted over

“Last election I had every single sign vandalized and swastikas spray painted on them…don’t know where they are going on this one,” he posted on his Facebook page.

Andrew Balakshin was so offended by it, he decided to cover over the N-word on the sign before more people saw it.

“Me and my brother were driving by the sign when I noticed that someone had defaced it,” said Balakshin.

The sign was near the corner of Menzies, and Hope River Road. He said he also saw that a Chris Kloot re-election sign also had some scrawled writing on it.

He got out of the car and went to nearest house to ask for some tape.

“I don’t think anyone should have to look at that,” Balakshin said. “It’s ridiculous.”

The homeowners were “shocked” to see the racist graffiti that appeared on the sign this week.

“They gladly gave me the tape and I covered it up,” Balakshin said.

READ MORE: Racist slogans on FN signs


@CHWKjourno
jfeinberg@theprogress.com

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A racial slur appeared on an election sign. (Submitted)


Jennifer Feinberg

About the Author: Jennifer Feinberg

I have been a Chilliwack Progress reporter for 20+ years, covering city hall, Indigenous, business, and climate change stories.
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