Stikine MLA Nathan Cullen called out propagators of hate crime after his highway billboard sign was vandalized with anti-Semitic graffiti sometime this week.
A swastika was drawn across Cullen on the Billboard, on Hwy 16 west of Smithers, with the words B次元官网网址淒OC Bonnie HitlerB次元官网网址� scribbled at the bottom.
Calling the incident a B次元官网网址渂latant act of anti-Semitic vandalism,B次元官网网址� Cullen sad this is not the first time people have used such terrible, hateful imagery.
The incident was reported to the RCMP on Thursday, Dec.2 and the police have begun invesgitating, said Sgt. Chris Manseau.
B次元官网网址淎nti-Semitism, racism, and discrimination affect the entire community, not just those targeted,B次元官网网址� said the MLA in a Dec. 1 social media post. B次元官网网址淎s a descendant of Jewish people, I can tell you of the pain and hurt these images cause within the community and many others. It simply must stop.B次元官网网址�
Smithers has been home to more anti-vaccination and anti-restriction rallies than most places in northwest B.C. With a vaccination rate (double dose for people aged 12 and above) at 75 per cent in Smithers, it ranks lower than neighbouring local health areas such as Terrace (82 per cent), Kitimat (95 per cent), Prince Rupert (84 per cent).
In the Nov. 15 legislature, Cullen had spoken in support of Bill 20-2021 the Access to Services Act., which looks at establishing hospitals, schools, COVID-19 testing and vaccination sites etc. as B次元官网网址渂ubble zones,B次元官网网址� restricting access to protesters. Cullen discussed the challenges faced by frontline workers in his constituency of Smithers because of protests at hospital sites.
He also spoke about his Jewish heritage and how some protests in his community were using the yellow Stars of David and other Holocaust symbols when protesting science and vaccines.
B次元官网网址淚t is so ludicrous, it is so insensitive, it is so inflammatory to use images of the Holocaust to describe public health orders in British Columbia and in Canada right now,B次元官网网址� Cullen had said in the legislature.
Further speaking about the billboard vandalism, Cullen said the provincial NDP government stands with anyone in B.C. who is facing racism and anti-Semitism.
B次元官网网址淪hould you witness or become the victim of a hate crime, I encourage you to report it to your local authority or reach out to the Resilience BC Anti-Racism Network for support,B次元官网网址� said Cullen.
The billboard vandalism also took place around the same time Cullen was issued an eviction notice from Hazelton by Gitxsan hereditary chiefs on Nov. 27 owing to RCMP arrests and escalating pipeline violence in Houston.
The billboard defacement does not appear to be related to that conflict.
