Lawnside and New Jersey residents unite after bias incident

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Two days after Donald Trump became president-elect, Lawnside, New Jersey, resident Dawn Hines’ workday was interrupted by a series of calls from an unknown number.

When she finally answered her phone, it was her neighbor who informed her that her backyard fence had been vandalized with spray paint depicting male genitals and the words “I HATE N*** ***”. SORRY NOT SORRY. The neighbor sent him photos of her damaged fence.

“Immediately, when I saw the charts and exactly, you know, everything they were saying and explaining, I was just a little numb,” she said.

The backyard fence of Dawn Hines’ property, visible from major roads connecting several towns in Camden County. The Lawnside Public Works Department removed the graffiti after it was reported. (Photo courtesy of Dawn Hines)

In Lawnside’s more than three centuries of existence, nothing like this has ever happened, residents say. Incorporated in 1926, the borough is the only antebellum black community in the Garden State.

Hines has lived in Lawnside for more than two decades. She believes Trump’s incendiary rhetoric on race has emboldened racially motivated attacks.

“Honestly, I would say it was done right after the election,” she said.

Dawn Hines was notified of graphic, racist graffiti at work on the fence of her home in Lawnside, New Jersey. She is now taking advantage of the incident to raise awareness. (P. Kenneth Burns/WHY)

Her yard is visible from a main road connecting several nearby towns, including Runnemede, Magnolia and Voorhees, and she believes that’s why her fence became a target.

“It was strategically placed. It’s so perfect,” Hines said. “Anyone can, you know, just see what’s posted there. They wanted to get the message across and they did. »

Incidents of bias recently hit record highs in New Jersey

If the incident on Hines’ property is directly related to the election, Amol Sinha, executive director of the ACLU of New Jersey, said he wouldn’t be surprised.

“When hatred comes from above, what ends up happening is there is a trickle down of hatred and fear that perpetuates our communities,” he said.

Sinha said incidents of bias, the state’s legal term for hate crimes, could increase as Trump selects cabinet members who share his controversial views.

“I fear we will see more of these phenomena under the second Trump administration and, potentially, more hate crimes as a result,” he said.