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The incident happened in a neighborhood in Lawnside, according to a statement by the Camden County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, Nov. 12.
The graffiti included a racial slur and "offensive imagery" spray painted on a fence.
"This was a shocking and disgusting display of hatred that has absolutely no place in Camden County," commissioners Jonathan Young and Al Dyer said. "Lawnside is a beautiful town with a deep connection to the African American community, as it was the first independent, self-governing African American municipality north of the Mason-Dixon Line. And to see such a blatant attack on our Camden County community is frightening and appalling to say the least.
"Now more than ever, it is crucial for all of us to come together to stop racist hate in our communities. We need to stand together and denounce this deplorable behavior as it is only used to foment hate and divide us as neighbors."
Other politicians also criticized the racist vandalism.
"Racism must be called out when we see it, especially when it happens in our own community," Rep. Donald Norcross, a Democratic Congressman representing Camden County, said in a social media post. "I’m glad the police are investigating this act of vandalism as a hate crime."
"This hateful rhetoric is not only abhorrent but also antithetical to the very foundation of who we are as a state—one built on the principles of equality, justice, and respect for all," Assembly Majority Leader Louis Greenwald posted on Facebook. "We stand in solidarity with the people of Lawnside and all communities affected by hate crimes. We trust that those responsible will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law."
National civil rights attorney Ben Crump also showed his support for Lawnside.
"As police investigate, the community is uniting to show this won’t break their spirit," Crump posted on Facebook. "Let’s stand with Lawnside and all communities that refuse to let hate win!"
Dawn Hines told 6abc Action News that the racist graffiti was found on her property where she has lived for 20 years.
"Hate has no place here," Hines said to 6abc. "It has no place here. I have loving neighbors. My neighbors are loving, and we are a loving community."
Hines and her neighbors also said they believe the graffiti was intentionally sprayed on a part of the fence facing busy Evesham Avenue.
"They knew where to put it," her neighbor Qawi Austin told 6abc. "They knew where to get the message and they wanted to make sure everyone saw it because of the busy traffic that comes here."
Crews "immediately" removed the graffiti, 6abc reported. Hines said she planned to repair her fence and install cameras.
Lawnside was founded in 1840 when abolitionists bought land for freed and escaped slaves, the borough's website said. It was incorporated in 1926 and had 2,955 residents as of the 2020 U.S. Census.
Anyone with information about the racist graffiti should call the Lawnside Police Department at 856-573-6205.
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