Nova Scotia election: Racist and Nazi graffiti found on election signs

Prospective voters in the Preston-Dartmouth riding woke up to a rude surprise on election day, finding racist and Nazi graffiti on candidate’s signage.

Signs for the NDP, Progressive Conservative and Liberal candidates were defaced at the juncture of Lake Major Road and Johnson Street in North Preston.

READ MORE: Complete Nova Scotia election coverage

Irvine Carvey, the Progressive Conservative candidate, had his sign defaced with a swastika and the phrase, “Sieg heil,” traditionally used as a Nazi salute.

NDP candidate Shelley Fashan, had a monkey drawn on her sign while Liberal candidate Keith Colwell, had the number 1488 marked on his.

1488 is a combination of two symbols used by white supremacists. The number 14 represents the fourteen words that make up the white supremacist phrase, “We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children.” The 88 is short hand for HH or “Heil Hitler,” as H is the eighth number in the alphabet.

READ MORE: Systemic racism still a problem for survivors of NS Home for Colored Children, report finds

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NDP Leader Gary Burill condemned the defaced signs in a tweet on Tuesday.

Jennifer Clarke, an RCMP spokesperson, said the Mounties are now aware of the signs and are looking into it.

The defaced signs have been removed as of 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday.

Prior to 2012, Preston-Dartmouth was a protected riding, created to increase the chances that an African Nova Scotian would be elected to the legislature. It includes the historic African Nova Scotian communities of East Preston, North Preston and Cherrybrook.