Police investigate vandalism after 'racist' spray-painted on Beaufort Black Chamber sign

A social media debate might have preceded an act of vandalism at the planned site of a new building for the Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce.

Someone spray-painted "Racist" on the Black Chamber's sign late Friday night or early Saturday. The vandalized sign was on display at the same time the Beaufort Water Festival parade traveled past the Black Chamber's current building on Bladen Street and Duke Street and past the lot where the new building will be constructed across the street.

Police removed the sign later the same day.

Black Chamber president and CEO Larry Holman said someone had questioned the need for a separate chamber and its receipt of grants, in posts to a Beaufort-related Facebook group more than a week before the sign was vandalized. Holman told the person to visit the Black Chamber's website to learn about the organization.

He said he kept a record of the conversation and names and will give them to police if asked.

"Just because we've got 'Black Chamber' on it doesn't mean we serve only black folk," said Holman, who is black. "We can't do that; we can't discriminate. We cannot, will not discriminate based on race, color, creed -- it's not going to happen."

Beaufort police are investigating the vandalism, Cpl. Hope Able said.

Officers removed the vandalized sign, which has been replaced by a blue sign with "LOVE" written on the front and "EVOLVE" on the back.

Nicole Kader, who said she regularly walks past the Black Chamber in her Northwest Quadrant neighborhood, made the "love" sign before she knew what the graffiti said. She saw police activity and paint on the edges after the sign was removed and knew the message was related to race.

"I don't want that kind of hate to represent the Northwest Quadrant," said Kader, who is white. "That's not the neighborhood as I've known it."

Holman said Sunday his organization doesn't operate like a traditional chamber, that its membership is 60 percent black, its employees are of various races and that most people don't know what the Black Chamber does.

He said the organization helps people obtain health insurance, housing counseling for those with mortgage or landlord issues, and loans up to $50,000 through a microlending program.

The Black Chamber is dedicated to "the empowerment of African American communities and small businesses," according to its website, and works with businesses the federal government classifies as a "disadvantaged business enterprise," as they are owned by those who are socially or economically disadvantaged.

The new Black Chamber building is expected to be completed in March, Holman said. The building is being financed by a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development loan, according to the since-removed sign.

The sign is required on the site and cost about $200 to replace, Holman said.

Anyone with information on the case can call Investigator Josh Dowling at 843-322-7950.

Follow reporter Stephen Fastenau at twitter.com/IPBG_Stephen.

Related content:

• Beaufort building to be demolished to make way for small businesses , Sept. 2, 2014
• Debate surrounding Beaufort Black Chamber of Commerce flares again , Sept 14., 2010

This story was originally published July 28, 2015 at 11:11 AM with the headline "Police investigate vandalism after 'racist' spray-painted on Beaufort Black Chamber sign."