SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — An ugly, obscenity-laced sight recently greeted people at the little league fields in Allied Gardens.
Early Tuesday, Dave went for a walk with his 10-year-old son. Eventually they made their way to the Allied Gardens Little League fields and saw a large tagging on the side of a concession building.
"I saw '**** China' spray-painted in huge letters on one side of the building, and I quickly took a picture, and took him off to side so he wouldn't have to see it. Really disgusted and troubled by it," said Dave.
That spray-painted message was repeated over and over on the other side building and a concrete stairway.
"The graffiti was a real slap in the face to everything the community built there and what they teach their kids there," said Dave.
Dave posted the photos of the graffiti on the Nextdoor site. Neighbors reached out to the little league officials. The tagging painted over by the next day, but the hurt is hard to cover up.
"I know how diverse San Diego is, and it made me immediately worried about people who may be targeted because of this," said Dave.
Dave worries it's a short path from this to targeted hate aimed at Asian Americans. Hate crimes and incidents directed at Asian Americans have surged during the pandemic, according to the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations. They report more than 100 acts of hate-motivated hostility since between February and April.
That type of hostility has now been felt in a place belonging to kids.
"A little league field is supposed to be about community and respect. The respect was hurt the most with that graffiti," said Dave.
A spokesperson with Allied Gardens Little League told 10News the cleanup expense is tough because their fundraisers have been postponed because of the pandemic.
A Gofundme campaign has been set up to help with the cleanup.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call San Diego Police at 619-531-2000.
