A reader sent me an email and photo of a some disturbing graffiti he found while walking his dogs this morning in an alley along Hamilton Street. He's contacted the police, but wanted people to be aware.

**click to enlarge before & after photo**
(photo: Jasmin Benab, DC Mayor's Office)

UPDATE: Thanks to Jasmin Benab and Phillip McAuley from the DC Mayor's Office of Community Relations & Services for their quick response. The garage has been repainted and the graffiti is gone. Still don't know why it occurred and hope it doesn't reappear anywhere else, but heartened by the response of residents and DC gov officials. Still recommend someone throw a block party to bring neighbors together!

If the city isn't able to clean this right away, I suggest a neighborhood painting party and freshen up this neighbor's garage door. And perhaps a block party to get all the street neighbors out showing solidarity. This kind of crap is intolerable.

Seriously, I have no idea what's wrong with people who do this kind of thing. (On a side note... a noose with a road, trees and clouds, with a gang tag below?)

The reader's email is below:

Noose graffiti found in an alley on Hamilton Street

I'm dog-sitting for friends, and while walking the dog last night came across a noose spray-painted onto a garage door in an alley in the 400 block of Hamilton St NW. Needless to say I was more than a little shocked. This is particularly disconcerting given the recent discovery of physical nooses at local schools, churches and museums. As such, I think it's important to share this despicable discovery with the neighborhood, so they can be aware of what's happened and maintain a watchful posture against any future vandalism.

It's definitely not something I expected to find, not the least of which because we seldom see much graffiti around here. The content was another matter entirely. I'm not sure if the intent is to intimidate the residents of the house, or if this is a more-or-less random placement. Either way, it's disturbing. I've notified by ANC commissioner, who's encouraged me to report this to the police as a potential hate crime.

I think it's important for the neighborhood to be aware of this.