Someone Is Sticking ‘Exclusively For White People’ Stickers On Austin Businesses: Is It A Weird Act Of Vandalism?
Someone has been placing stickers that say “Exclusively for White People” on the windows of various Austin businesses, and the Texas city’s mayor is not amused, CNN is reporting.
“Exclusively for white people” stickers appear on six East Austin business. http://t.co/tcE9p1Rwli #Racism #Texas pic.twitter.com/tEl3Xu8oH4
— J. David McSwane (@davidmcswane) March 18, 2015
Between midnight Tuesday and early morning Wednesday, somebody put the stickers on the windows of at least six businesses on the city’s east side. One such sticker wound up in the window of Sugar Mama’s Bake Shop. Owner April Jensen, who is African American, posted a photo of the sticker on social media, along with an apology, according to the Austin Statesman.
“Today we were the victim of what I consider to be a hate crime against our family and staff at our Eastside location. Our business was built on family and love and we will let that shine on.”
Other businesses that received the offensive stickers include El Chilito Tacos y Café, Windmill Bicycles, and Rare Trends, a clothing store. Rare Trends also took to social media to apologize for any confusion the sticker may have caused.
“We were victims of an outrageous vandalism act occurring in many East Austin businesses. Rare Trends does not or will never discriminate against any person regardless of their age, ethnicity or religious beliefs. Please read the Austin American-Statesman and find out more on this horrible attack on East Austin businesses.”
It’s not known who is putting up the “Exclusively for White People” stickers in Austin, or what point they’re trying to make. As Blue Nation Review notes, the stickers are “obviously professionally printed,” so if the stickers are acts of random vandalism, the vandal put a lot of time and effort into it.
Bakery owner Guerra O’Neal tells KXAN that the vandals may be trying to make some sort of political statement about gentrification, which has been taking place in east Austin.
“Some people are saying that this may be an attempt at satire, or a statement about gentrification.”
Regardless of the vandals’ motives, Austin mayor Steve Adler is having none of it.
“This is an appalling and offensive display of ignorance in our city. Our city is a place where respect for all people is a part of our spirit and soul. We will keep it that way.”
As of this post, Austin police have made no arrests of anyone associated with the “Exclusively for Whites” stickers.
[Image courtesy of Getty Images/William Lovelace]
