As racist vandalism continues in Bellingham, ‘we’re not going to be intimidated’

Hateful and racist graffiti has been increasing over the past few weeks across Whatcom County, in the wake of local rallies and marches supporting the Black Lives Matter movement and community discussions about systemic racism.

In early July, the “graffiti rock” on northbound Interstate 5 just south of Bellingham was defaced with a swastika and the words “white power,” according to several Whatcom County residents who emailed The Bellingham Herald.

“It might be good for someone to get out here and take a picture before my friends go paint over it tomorrow, so the community knows that we are not immune to that sort of hate,” Jennifer Elliot of Bellingham said in an email.