You are walking home with a friend, who is a racialized person. While crossing the road, you notice a large billboard at the mall promoting a new Black-owned hair salon; it has images of models from different ethnicities including Caucasian, Black, and Asian heritages. You notice that the faces of the Black models have been crossed out and damaged. You both are reminded of the Anti-Asian Hate Graffiti that caused a public stir on the North Shore and feel angered by the targeted racist vandalism.
Possible ways to respond include…
See
- Assess the situation and see if any other people notice the damaged billboard or if the vandalism is still in progress.
- Assess how your friend is affected by the vandalism.
Speak
- Go inside the mall to visit the salon and ask them if they are aware of the vandalism.
- Approach the local municipal authorities to report this incident.
- Call 911 if you see the graffiti vandalism is in progress, in a safe place to do so. Explain the actions are not only vandalism but also racist.
Support
- Show solidarity to your friend and the salon owner with supportive words. Acknowledge their feelings.
- Share appropriate victim support resources, and further encourage getting further support from friends and networks.
- Suggest options for them to take action if they choose to. For example, reporting to mall management, police or media.
- Reach out through your own support network to discuss your own feelings and reactions.
