Swastika painted on Christian pregnancy center
EUGENE, Ore. -- Tim Long stared at the windows of Lane Pregnancy Support Center in disgust. There, in paint, someone had scrawled seemingly nonsensical slogans like "kill us now" and "give us your eggs."
The vandal or vandals also painted a swastika across the glass windows on the store front on 13th Avenue.
"I can't believe people in this town, anybody would be so intolerant," said Long.
Intolerant, but not a hate crime: Eugene police said the words were not threatening and are considered just criminal mischief. Police said it does not appear the swastika graffiti was not directed towards a specific person or class of people, which means that under the law, it's not considered intimidation or a hate crime.
Vandals sprayed the series of messages on the pregnancy center's windows sometime Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. Employees discovered the graffiti when they arrived at 9 a.m.
"I came out and looked at it and was just surprised and confused why someone would do this to us," said Julie Nothwang, the center's development director.
Nothwang said the words are hurtful and contradictory to the center's pro-life Christian beliefs.
"We're about life and helping people," she said, "and I get the impression they think we are not."
The center helps new and expecting moms with free baby food and diapers, no questions asked -- and no financial records necessary. They also give moms maternity clothes and offer counseling.
The center remained open throughout the day despite the vandalism.
