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Two days after Donald Trump became president-elect, Dawn Hines of Lawnside, New Jersey, had her workday interrupted by a series of calls from an unknown number.

When he finally answered his phone, his neighbor informed him that his backyard fence was closed. destroyed with spray paint It depicts male genitalia and the words “I HATE NIGGERS.” I’M NOT SORRY, I’M SORRY.” The neighbor sent him photos of his defaced fence.

“When I saw the graphs and exactly everything he said and stated, I was a little numb,” he said.

According to area residents, nothing like this has ever happened in Lawnside’s more than three centuries of existence. Founded in 1926, the county is the Garden State’s only antebellum Black community.

Hines has lived in Lawnside for more than two decades. He believes Trump’s history of inflammatory rhetoric on race has encouraged racially motivated attacks.

“I can honestly say this was done right after the election,” he said.

His backyard is visible from the main road that connects to several nearby towns, including Runnemede, Magnolia and Voorhees, and he believes that’s why his fence became a target.

“It was strategically placed. “It’s so perfect,” Hines said. “Everyone can see what’s been put in there. “They wanted to get the message across and they did.”

Bias incidents recently hit records in New Jersey

If the incident at Hines’ property is directly related voteAmol Sinha, executive director of the ACLU of New Jersey, said he wouldn’t be surprised.

“When hate erupts from the top, it creates a trickle of hatred and fear that sustains our societies,” he said.

Sinha said incidents of bias, the state’s legal term for hate crimes, could increase as Trump picks cabinet members who share his divisive views.

“I’m afraid we’ll see more of this in the second Trump administration, and potentially more hate crimes as a result,” he said.