Published 2009-01-22T00:00:00Z”/>
Tony Forte
Jan. 10, 2009
<em>Editor’s note: This article has been corrected. See below</em>
Vandals painted racist graffiti on a car belonging to a professor’s husband on Forest Creek Circle Wednesday night.
Henri Flores’ white Toyota Corolla had “white pride” sprayed on the driver-side door in red paint, said Leslie Layton-Flores, Henri’s wife and journalism professor at Chico State.
An Obama bumper sticker was almost completely covered in black spray paint, and the rear tail-lights were also smeared in black, she said. The car was parked on the street at the time it was vandalized.
“It was very upsetting,” Layton-Flores said.
She thinks the car was targeted because of the Obama sticker, she said.
She also said she thinks the upcoming presidential inauguration may have something to do with the defacing.
This was the second time the car was vandalized, she said. The first time, people threw eggs at the car and wrote “fuck” on the Obama sticker, Layton-Flores said.
Henri Flores thinks he is being personally targeted because this was the second time the Obama sticker was vandalized, he said. However, he does not think he is in danger.
After the incident, Layton-Flores sent an e-mail to subscribers of <a href=”http://www.chicoSol.org”>chicoSol.org</a>, an online webzine that she publishes. She said she received an overwhelming response to the situation as people sharing their concerns.
One subscriber posted a blog entry at <a href= “http://www.chicorealestatevoice.com”>chicorealestatevoice.com</a> voicing his outrage for the situation. Shannon Karlstrom condemned the vandals and wrote “no matter what the motive, it is simple minded and ignorant in nature. And, most definitely cowardly.”
The non-oil base paint was easily removed Friday morning for free at Concours Elite, a collision center in Chico. Layton-Flores saved the Obama sticker, which is still on the car.
Tony Forte can be reached at <a href= “mailto:[email protected]”>[email protected]</a>
<em>The article incorrectly stated that the blogger was a woman. It also stated that the vandalism took place on Creek Circle. It took place on Forest Creek Circle. The Orion’s reporters strive for accuracy. We recognize that mistakes will occur, but we treat every error very seriously. If you feel a correction needs to be made, e-mail the managing editor at <a href= “mailto:[email protected]”>[email protected]</a></em>
