Racial epithet and Swastikas defile Lake Phalen ParkAn ugly act of hatred hit the Lake Phalen Park in St. Paul, Minnesota on the night/morning before the second day of the Dragon Festival.
On July 12, someone defaced areas of Phalen Park, spray-painting racist remarks and symbols.
The beautiful sculpture of an Asian woman's face Meditation by Chinese artist Lei Yixin was severely damaged. The icon was ground zero for this "hate" crime.
We feel the main target of this attack was the Asian American communities since the vandalism occurred during the Dragon Festival, but the racism was not directed at us alone.
The St. Paul Police are investigating and the FBI is looking at and investigating the vandalism as a hate crime. All efforts are being made to find the person or persons behind this crime.
The Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans along with numerous supporters and organizations will hold a healing gathering for the communities impacted on the evening of August 15, 2008 at Lake Phalen Park.
The gathering's purposes will be to create greater awareness of this tragedy, bring people together to foster understanding and peace, and to ask for help in cleaning the statue and safeguarding its future.
You are asked for help.
1) please plan to attend the healing gathering on August 15
2) volunteer to help in the restorative process for the sculpture - cleaning it and taking off the paint
3) donations to pay professionals to remove the paint, estimated cost - $2,500 - $3,000
Donations are being accepted by Public Arts St. Paul:
253 East 4th Street
St. Paul, MN 55101
651-290-0921
651-292-0345 (fax)
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