Herne Hill business owners were left ‘sad and disgusted’ this week when racist graffiti was spray-painted in two-foot high letters across the front wall of a jazz bar.
On Monday morning, a message reading ‘No n*****s’ was discovered covering the entire front wall of Dee Dee’s Jazz and Funk bar in Herne Hill Road.
Owner Elijah Taylor said: “I don’t understand it. I used to think that racists were just ignorant, but the person who did this purposefully went out, bought spray paint and decided to write this racist hatred on the wall.
“It’s such a shame. I had a woman come in after her kid had seen it. She said that after seeing the graffiti her daughter said ‘Mum, I don’t want to live here anymore’. Imagine having your daughter say that to you after living here all your life?”
Elijah feels that the message represents everything he and his establishment stand against.
He said: “Every Wednesday we have a ‘Platform’ event, where anyone and everyone can get up and perform. Poetry, music, comedy… it doesn’t matter. It’s all about coming together and being a community – the person who wrote that graffiti completely contradicts this.
“I’m black but most of my customers are white. If people have a problem with me, I would much prefer it if they said it to me personally. Talk to me! It’s better than this cowardice, better than hiding behind walls.”
Ragz-CV, who runs an event for the area’s young people at the bar every Tuesday, was equally shocked by the vile message.
The Poetic Unity founder said: “It’s sad that in 2015, in south London, the most multicultural part of the most multicultural city in the country, this can happen. I’m sad that someone would stoop to this.”
The graffiti was removed on Tuesday after police were informed and photographic evidence was taken. No arrests have been made and enquiries continue. If you have any information, please call Southwark CID on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555 111.