South Tacoma Library diversity mural defaced with racist graffiti

The library is working with the Tacoma Police Department in the investigation to determine if the graffiti constitutes a hate crime. TACOMA, Wash. — The South Tacoma Library is working to restore a diversity mural it commissioned from a local artist after it was defaced with racist graffiti earlier this week. According to the library, the building was tagged on the sides facing South 56th Street and South Puget Sound Avenue early Wednesday morning. The side of the building featured a mural created by local artist Dionne Bonner in partnership with the City of Tacoma’s Arts and Cultural Vitality division. Also tagged was a nearby traffic box that featured public art depicting people of color. “Bonner engaged in a collaborative process with local leaders in the diverse neighborhoods of South Tacoma to create a vibrant mural that incorporates visual elements from cultures and traditions that are part of this community,” the library said in a Facebook post. “We love the mural’s bright colors, butterflies, flowers, and imagery of people reading, and are grateful for the way the mural has captured the attention of passersby and also added vitality to the neighborhood. We appreciate how Dionne worked with the community to...