PALO ALTO — A hate crime investigation is underway in Palo Alto after swastikas and a racial epithet were found spray-painted on playground equipment at a park, police said.
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A city worker found the graffiti Thursday morning at Rinconada Park, according to the Palo Alto Police Department.
The graffiti included a racial epithet directed at Black people and two swastikas, as well as “sexualized language and images,” police said. City workers removed the graffiti.
Police said they believe the vandalism happened between 9 p.m. Wednesday and 7 a.m. Thursday.
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The vandals returned to the park Thursday night and spray-painted additional graffiti on the same equipment, police said, noting that “there was no hate-crime component to the second night of vandalism.” City workers again removed the graffiti.
Police said there is no suspect information.
Officers are stepping up patrols in the area during the nighttime hours, police said.
Anyone with information related to the case can contact the city’s 24-hour dispatch center at 650-329-2413; those wishing to remain anonymous can call or text 650-383-8984 or email [email protected].
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