Racist Graffiti Found on Home of Black Couple

NAACP and Camarillo officials on Friday condemned the racist slogans and symbols a retired black couple discovered defacing the front door, garage door and side of their Glenbrook Avenue home.

Kilmer Jackson Jr., 67, a retired Navy chief petty officer, said his wife discovered swastikas, racial epithets, profanities and graffiti with the letters “WP”--an apparent allusion to the phrase White Power--when she went to turn on their garden sprinkler system Thursday.

The 22-year military veteran, who has lived at the house since 1971, notified police and groups that include the National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People.

Police are investigating the incident not only as a case of vandalism, but also as a civil rights violation, he said.

The couple said they have not experienced similar racism during their years in the affluent bedroom community.

John Hatcher, president of the Ventura County NAACP chapter, visited the couple’s home Friday to take pictures of the graffiti and said he was disgusted by what he saw.

“I don’t see it as a prank,” he said. “I see it as a hate crime.”

Mayor David Smith said he was appalled at the incident.

“When I first heard about it, it surprised me,” he said. “But upon reflection, racial hatred is throughout our society, so I shouldn’t be shocked that some of the same attitudes that are in other cities are in our own city or close by.”

Apart from racist leaflets circulated at Camarillo High School about three years ago, Smith said he could not recall similar incidents during his 15 years in the city.

According to Smith, police know of no neighborhood grudges and said that two other black families that live on the same block have not reported problems.

“My hope is it’s an isolated incident, that we can find the people who are responsible and it’s an aberration,” Smith said.”

But Hatcher said that similar incidents happen six or seven times a year in the county. Camarillo is no more immune to racism than anywhere else, he said.

“You can’t hide dirt like this and it shouldn’t be hidden,” Hatcher said. “We need to stand up and speak out as people.”