Graffiti slurs target mayoral campaign signs in Montreal

Michael Simkin never thought he would be the target of racial slurs during his campaign.

“Old Jew” covers a couple of Simkin’s campaign posters in NDG.

The 35 year-old is campaigning for the first time to be borough mayor of Cote-des-Neiges/NDG.

“It’s upsetting to be honest. I mean I haven’t experienced that kind of very specific slur since I was a young man- even elementary school I would say,” he said while standing by one his signs on de Maisonneuve Boulevard near Claremont Avenue.

On the other side of one of Simkin’s signs is a vandalized sign of Peter McQueen.

“English Bastard” is scribbled in bold black print. The incumbent city councillor is running to defend his NDG seat.

There have been several reports of racial remarks and graffiti aimed at visible minorities and other religious groups in recent weeks.

Some people think there is a direct correlation between the government’s proposed Charter of Values and higher tensions between various religious and linguistic minorities.

McQueen says he’s not surprised.

“Certainly (Premier) Marois and her Charter of Values is sending the wrong message,” he said.

Simkin removed the three graffiti laden signs with wire cutters.

Both he and McQueen promise to replace them with new ones and insist they won’t let these racial attacks deter them from campaigning.