Vandals Hit Black-Owned Deli Again : Doors Defaced With Epithets, Swastikas

A black-owned Glendale delicatessen, the scene of several acts of racially derogatory vandalism this year, has again been defaced with graffiti.

Laurette Yates, the owner of the Glen-Deli, 204 1/2 N. Brand Blvd., said she arrived at her business about 10 a.m. Saturday to find racial epithets and eight swastikas scrawled on the two entrances to the store.

“I thought that this thing had quieted down. Now, it’s happening all over again,” said Yates, 38, who added that she washed graffiti off the building on an average two to three times a week earlier this year.

Started in February

Yates told the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission and Glendale police that the graffiti started appearing in February, four months after she bought the business. Both agencies are continuing to investigate, but no arrests have been made.

Glendale Police Capt. Glynn Martin said he now has two officers assigned to the case.

Other than a few obscene or threatening phone calls, Yates said, there had been no vandalism over the last two months.

As word of the most recent attack spread Monday, members of the newly formed Human Relations Council stopped by to talk to Yates. The council, which was founded in 1963 to promote racial harmony but was disbanded in 1980, was revived last month because of Yates’ troubles.

Prompted by Publicity

Yates and council members say they fear the most recent attack was prompted by news accounts of the vandalism.

“It’s unfortunate, but this kind of publicity sometimes makes people repeat such actions,” said Geri Brown, council chairwoman.

Brown said the council will meet tonight to discuss arrangement for volunteers to patrol the delicatessen after hours. The volunteers would alert police if they see any suspicious activities, she said.

Meanwhile, as police continue their investigation, Yates said she will try to conduct business as usual.

“This whole thing is upsetting me, but I’m not going to let it get the best of me,” she said.