Racial slur found spray-painted on woman’s property in Camden County

LAWNSIDE, N.J. (WPVI) — Residents around Lawnside, New Jersey experienced an onslaught of emotions over the weekend after someone spray-painted offensive language on a woman’s property.

“I felt violated,” Dawn Hines said. “I still feel hurt.”

Hines says derogatory messages were spray-painted along her fence over the weekend. It contained a racial slur and offensive symbols.

“I was immediately discouraged. I was sad,” Hines said. “I was a little angry because I was freaked out and thinking, ‘How was I targeted?'”

Hines said she has lived in her home for 20 years and has never felt this hate from her community before.

Because Lawnside is a predominantly Black neighborhood, Hines and her neighbors believe this vandalism, like the placement, was intentional. The message faces Evesham Avenue.

“They knew where to put it,” said Qawi Austin, Hines’ neighbor. “They knew where to get the message and they wanted to make sure everyone saw it because there is a lot of traffic here.”

Neighbors said this racist rhetoric is a cause for concern.

“Some of us are feeling more empowered about what we do next as a community, while others are looking over our shoulders,” Austin said.

The community now says it is taking swift action.

Emergency crews immediately removed the graffiti and residents met with local leaders on Saturday to discuss solutions such as increasing patrols and maintaining vigilance.

“It just speaks to the fact that the community is so small that everyone knows everyone,” Austin said. “It really feels like a small southern town where everyone is related, just two degrees of separation.”

Residents said they would look out for each other, showing the true power of unity.

“Hate has no place here. He has no place here,” Hines said. “I have loving neighbors. My neighbors are loving and we are a loving community.”

Hines plans to repaint her fence and install cameras.

Police are investigating this incident as a hate crime.