PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — When a Portland man came home from work, he was shocked to see a racist message spray-painted on his fence adjacent to his “BLACK LIVES MATTER” sign in the Brentwood-Darlington neighborhood.
In black letters the message read: “BUT WHITE LIVES MATTER MORE.”
“My first thought is that is terrible, it’s a terrible thing for people to say…” the man said.
“Its not welcome on our street, it’s not welcome in this neighborhood, it’s not welcome in this community,” said neighbor Tanaz Polson.
The man removed the graffiti immediately, sanding the message away.
“No one should feel unsafe in their neighborhood,” he said.
His neighbor was disgusted by the message as well.
“The level of disgust I feel that people can so freely and outwardly post their hate on a street with lots of families, lots of people of color, and it’s not welcome here,” she said.
The man said he has received a lot of support from neighbors, adding that they talked to him within minutes of finding out about it to make sure he was OK.
Neighbors said they denounce hatred, and instead want to spread words of love.
“Live your life with love, peace and prosperity,” he said.
The man added he won’t be intimidated by the graffiti, and that he wants to get an even bigger BLM sign.