Columbia City Hall Vandalized

By fitsnews • on December 30, 2009

An as-yet unidentified vandal has spray-painted a racial slur on the side of City Hall in Columbia, S.C. – another embarrassing incident for a city and state that can’t seem to escape reminders of its racist past. The graffiti – which was discovered on the Laurel Street side of the building Wednesday morning – was swiftly condemned by city officials.

“This is not Columbia,” said Columbia Mayor Bob Coble at a hasty press conference held with members of City Council Wednesday morning. “This is not what Columbia stands for.”

What did the vandal write?

Yeah …

no n*gger mayor die

Welcome to South Carolina, people.

Anyway, for those of you unfamiliar with the context, one of the four candidates to replace Coble as Mayor of Columbia, local attorney Steve Benjamin, is black.

Coble called the incident “isolated,” but that’s not entirely accurate.

In fact, this is the second time this year that Columbia’s mayor has had to publicly deflect attention from an embarrassing racial slur.

Back in June, Columbia resident and prominent GOP activist Rusty DePass compared U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama to an escaped gorilla at a local zoo – a story that broke exclusively here on FITS.

This morning’s story was broken by Adam Beam at The (Columbia, S.C.) State newspaper.

Comments

By bleaster on December 30th, 2009 at 9:53 am

A shame that it happened, and a shame that it received attention.

By Carolinabeve on December 30th, 2009 at 10:37 am

Agreed!

By SC1st on December 30th, 2009 at 10:58 am

It needed attention.Hiding racist incidents does not make racism go away.Informing the public regarding an incident on public property is appropriate, so citizens can be aware of their surroundings, and possibly provide leads to police.

By marc on December 30th, 2009 at 10:59 am

despicable and ignorant behavior indeed. i take issue with your posting: it indicates this is what sc is all about (”Welcome to South Carolina, people.”).

people use the N word all over the country, and there are more people who are angered by this than support it. btw, two ugly incidents in one year do not make us a racist city/state.

By Bat Man on December 30th, 2009 at 11:47 am

That sounds like “Death Threat,” what was spray painted. This is Mob Rule, whack someone and lets take care of it.

By Zach on December 30th, 2009 at 11:50 am

I intend to vote for Steve Benjamin. He has worked to cross racial lines and bring a cohesiveness to ALL of Columbia’s citizens. The reverse racism within the present City of Columbia’s departments is what is appalling. Try being white and working with the water department or the building inspectors. Thank you, Mr. Cromatie.

By The Man on December 30th, 2009 at 11:54 am

ALL Racial threats are Death Threats. If I controlled this place I would clean it up.

By A. Person on December 30th, 2009 at 12:33 pm

Maybe a Benjamin supporter did it to get the candidates name publicized?

By Cooter Brown on December 30th, 2009 at 4:57 pm

Kidz spray paint all kinds ov filth on da ova-passes, signs, buildings, rail Road cars, an’ jest ’bout aniewhare dey cain.

Whut makes dis so dam special?

By Cooter Brown on December 30th, 2009 at 4:58 pm

Will Mista Steve Benjamin sing Dixie wit me?

By Liberty For Me on December 30th, 2009 at 5:16 pm

Fits…Can you please report this tuff without saying how horrible this state is.It reallt get sold

By Liberty For Me on December 30th, 2009 at 5:17 pm

Really gets old…duh

By fitsnews on December 30th, 2009 at 5:22 pm

LFM,

Pattern of behavior.

-FITS

By SnakeMD on December 30th, 2009 at 6:24 pm

The late James Dickey told me that Columbia was a special place, “a starry place between the antlers.” So, what happened?

By Old Bertie Boy on December 30th, 2009 at 6:37 pm

Damn, are there no Jews or women running for mayor?
It’s so boring picking on the afro-american candidate
all the time.

By Christian on December 30th, 2009 at 7:04 pm

Could be disinformation. I can’t wait to learn who actually did it, vs. speculating on who it’s supposed to make us think did it.

By Designated Driver on January 2nd, 2010 at 5:24 am

I’m betting a Benjamin supporter was behind this. Probably not with the sanction of the Benjamin campaign, but maybe so.

A cheap and sleazy publicity stunt. Like when a former rep from Charleston would set her roadside signs on fire and be so quick to arrive on scene to cry about it.