Graffiti On Oakland Church Prompts Hate Crime Investigation

An Oakland church was spray-painted with a swastika and profanity over the weekend, prompting an investigation by the Police Department into the apparent hate crime, a police spokeswoman said.

Churchgoers reported the incident to police at about 11 a.m. Sunday after discovering the graffiti on the outside of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension at 4700 Lincoln Ave., Officer Holly Joshi said.

She said officers photographed the graffiti and that a sergeant who is strictly assigned to hate crimes is investigating the case.

Police are asking anyone with information regarding the case to call investigators, and Joshi said they have already received a number of tips.

"The community is very outraged by this and they have been stepping up and giving us all the info they think we need," Joshi said.