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NEW YORK (FOX5NY.COM) - Some of the walls in a Brooklyn business district that residents pass by every day are covered with graffiti. But after anti-Asian slurs were spray-painted around the community, local leaders are calling for action.
Messages like "Chinese [expletive] stink like fish" appeared on walls throughout Bensonshurst in recent days. There were several on or near the heavily trafficked 86th Street shopping area.
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams Brought together elected officials and Asian community leaders in a show of unity. Adams said about half a dozen of the disturbing signs have been seen throughout the diverse neighborhood, which has a long-established as well as growing Asian-American population.
Many of the slurs were in areas with surveillance cameras. All were in locations sure to be seen by and offend Asian Americans.
The NYPD confirmed that the Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating at least three incidents of what it calls criminal mischief as possible bias incidents.
The NYPD says the individual they are interested in questioning is described as a light-skinned male, with a cap on his head; he wore a shirt, shorts, sneakers and he carried a large bag.
Anyone with information was asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). Police say that all calls are confidential.