TACOMA, Wash. — As the general election approaches, “Tacoma for All” received disturbing news about their campaign signs, which support Initiative 1 and stronger tenant protections.
“Incredible vandalism going on in a lot of different neighborhoods, really in the north and west end,” said Devin Rydel Kelly of Tacoma for All. “We’re hearing reports in other places where folks are painting swastikas on our signs.”
The hateful symbol has been found emblazoned on signs throughout the city.
Miri Cypers from the Anti-Defamation League said the Jewish population makes up just 2% of the US population, and Seattle’s Jewish community only has 70,000 people. She said this kind of symbolism just further isolates one of the region’s smallest groups.
“I think there’s just a huge sense of unease and fear and feeling like even in our local communities, which we hope would be a safe and inclusive space, we’re continuously reminded that there is hate out there,” she said.
If passed, Initiative 1 would require landlords to provide relocation assistance, set limits on rental fees, and prevent evictions for certain groups during the winter months.
Opponents said the initiative does not address Tacoma’s low housing supply, and the new regulations would force smaller landlords out of the market.
But Kelly said Tacoma’s renters need this, and this vandalism won’t stop their efforts to push this initiative forward.
“It’s been disturbing to see that, but also, in a way, uniting,” he said. “It’s brought our supporters together, people have been taking them down, taking the paint off and putting them back up, because people really believe in this.”
Kelly added he has no idea who is defacing the group’s signs, but he hopes that those who oppose the measure can still come out to stand against this kind of behavior.