The Punjabi community felt hurt and deeply saddened after a Komagata Maru Memorial was defaced with graffiti, white handprints prominently on the Memorial. The Komagata Maru symbolizes a racist period in Canada's history.
Approximately 400 people were aboard the ship when they were not allowed to enter Canada.
The City of Vancouver issued a statement, that it was "saddened" to learn the memorial had been defaced, noting workers will be sent to remove the paint.
"While it is not clear what the motivation was, it shows disrespect to those who travelled and suffered on the ship and to their families," the statement said about the vandalism.
Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart expressed his disgust over this incident.
This is disgusting and whoever did this is a coward.
— Kennedy Stewart (@kennedystewart) August 22, 2021
This memorial is about the perseverance of a community that has helped to build and shape our city.
Nothing can erase that. We will remove the paint and the strength of Indo-Canadians will remain. https://t.co/yiLFHC9Vuk
Vancouver Police are collecting evidence after someone defaced the city’s Komagata Maru memorial Sunday. Police are treating the troubling incident as a possible hate crime.
“Front-line officers and other specially-trained investigators worked throughout the evening yesterday, and will continue to gather evidence in this disturbing crime,” says Sergeant Steve Addison, VPD. “This investigation is a priority, and we are committed to finding out who is responsible and why they did this.”
VPD immediately launched an investigation Sunday, after multiple online and media reports began showing white paint splattered on the memorial, located on the seawall in Coal Harbour.
“This monument is an important memorial to the people who traveled here seeking a better life and were wrongfully turned away because of racist policies,” adds Sergeant Addison. “It is disheartening that someone could show such disrespect to this important memorial, and we’d like anyone with information to come forward.”
#VPDLivestream VPD investigates after Komagata Maru memorial defaced. https://t.co/97U30bVKpd
— Vancouver Police (@VancouverPD) August 23, 2021
Premier John Horgan also took to Twitter to express his horror over this despicable act.
I’m deeply upset and angry about this ignorant act. My thoughts are with people in BC’s Punjabi community.
— John Horgan (@jjhorgan) August 23, 2021
We must understand our past to build a better future, and the names on this memorial deserve respect. https://t.co/jr7BxFShg7
The story quickly garnered traction on social media with people sharing thoughts over the incident involving graffiti.
Very saddened to see the Komagata Maru Memorial defaced with graffiti today.
— Jindi Singh KA (@jindisinghka) August 22, 2021
Handprints all over the names of those who were on the ship. @CitImmCanada@CityofVancouver @marshalederman pic.twitter.com/poTzanBlOw
Shortly after people came in to clean up the graffiti and preserve the memorial to its original state.
The cleanup has already begun. Thank you to the @CityofVancouver, @ParkBoard, Commissioner Stuart Mackinnon and your teams for cleaning this up in a timely manner. And thanks to @jindisinghka for sharing the graffiti on the #KomagataMaru Memorial. pic.twitter.com/TxTYcn5FDQ
— Naveen (@NaveenGirn) August 23, 2021
The vessel, which was a Japanese charter ship, was forced to return because of racist laws wanting to limit immigrants from Asia.
In order to restore justice by correcting the wrongdoings of the past in June 2020 Vancouver City Council unanimously passed a motion to formally apologize for actions of members of the 1914 city council regarding the Komagata Maru incident and declare May 23 as "Komagata Maru Remembrance Day."
Photo courtesy of Jindi Singh KA/Twitter.
