Seun Oryinsen, a native Nigerian and Rita Brown his White partner
Seun Oryinsen, a native Nigerian and Rita Brown his White partner have experienced blatant racial attacks on their home and vehicles that have shocked them and disgusted their neighbors. The couple moved into their home last summer on the normally quiet suburban Hodgson Drive in Newmarket (just North of Toronto). On September 10th, swastikas were spray painted on their garage doors and on their car was scratched the “N” word. Acid was also thrown on the vehicles sides and nails hammered into small pieces of wood were placed under their tires. Police also found a message that said the couple wasn’t wanted in the neighborhood and called Brown a “whore”. The note also said “we will kill if necessary”.
On September 16 and 17 a second incident occurred, again leaving nails under their car and a racial slur scratched into the car’s paint. Police installed surveillance cameras to no avail. The couple listed their house for sale but were unable to sell and just prior to the holidays the for sale sign was removed. Sometime between Christmas Eve and Christmas day the “N” word was again scratched on to the hood of Brown’s car. The for sale sign is going up again they say.
Neighbors expressed disgust at the racial vandalism and although police say they are doing their best to catch the person (s) responsible some think they (the police) are not doing enough. Mayor Tony Van Bynen said he was “deeply disappointed” that incidents like this could happen not only in his community by anywhere. He said in the 30 years he has lived in Newmarket this is the first such incident. Police are asking anyone with information to come forward by calling 866.876.5423 or call Crime Stoppers at 1.800.222.TIPS.
