A case of bias intimidation and criminal mischief involving racially-motivated hate speech is under investigation by the Princeton Police Department.
Graffiti was discovered June 25 on the underside of a bridge on Poe Road, off Princeton-Kingston Road, that was racially motivated, police said.
The Princeton Department of Public Works was notified and removed the graffiti, which was targeting the African American community.
“This type of racially-motivated hate speech will not be tolerated in our community, and we will work diligently to identify those responsible,” Princeton Police Chief Nicholas Sutter said.
The Princeton Police Department’s bias incident investigation officer, the Mercer County Prosecutor Office’s Bias Crimes unit and the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness also have been notified.
The New Jersey State Police Uniform Crime Reporting unit also has been notified.
The Princeton Police Department has been in discussion with community partners and municipal government to help manage the detrimental effects that hate speech has on the community, officials said.
Anyone with information on the incident should call the Princeton Police Department at 609-921-2100.