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Neighbors in Emerson-Garfield neighborhood wake up to racist, misogynistic graffiti

On Monroe Street just outside of an auto shop, vandals spray-painted derogatory language. This is just one instance in a string of vandalism in the area.

SPOKANE, Wash. — People living in the Emerson-Garfield neighborhood woke up Friday morning to multiple cars, sidewalks and the side of two businesses spray-painted with misogynistic and racial slurs.

On Monroe Street just outside of an auto shop, vandals spray-painted derogatory language. This is just one instance in a string of vandalism in the area.

KREM 2 News received exclusive security camera footage from the auto shop, which shows at about 11:30 p.m. Thursday night, three people were outside of the business tagging vehicles in the parking lot.

Just a block away, the suspects also tagged at least half a dozen cars, the sidewalks and a business.

"Why couldn't they go somewhere else?" Vince Lemus, whose daughter and neighbors had their cars vandalized with the racist and misogynistic language, said. "But why did it happen to us?"

Lemus spent all morning cleaning the spray paint off his daughter's and neighbor's cars. Lemus said he was upset at what happened.

"The impact, I think, first and foremost, is fear and then, and then a sense of wonder... do they have to be careful for their own safety?" Lemus said. "Do they have to be looking over their shoulders? Do they have to install cameras on the outside of their houses? And you know, will it happen again?" 

Daniel Strassenberg, public information officer with the Spokane Police Department, confirmed the police department received two reports about the vandalism Friday morning. Strassenberg said they are still in the early stages of investigating, and no suspects have been identified at this point.

The Spokane Police Department also said they're not aware of any similar vandalism in any other part of the city at this time.

"You just wonder if it's random, if it's targeted, if it's going to happen again," Lemus said.

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