Volunteers and community workers moved quickly this week to clean up the vandalism of a mural depicting Japanese American history in Seattle, reports KOMO.

The incident at Nihonmachi Alley in the city’s International District occurred on Martin Luther King Day.

Vandals overnight defaced the public work of art with black paint and bible verses scribbled over the wall painting.

“[The vandalism] is so disrespectful because it’s a tactic to separate us and who they think belongs here,” said Dylan Lai, an intern with OCA-Greater Seattle said to Fox13.

Crews from the Chinatown-International District Business Improvement Area along with volunteers had it cleaned up within a day.

Still, community members say it’s important that people know what happened.

“The message is to never forget, these stories need to continue being told,” Steve McLean of the Wing Luke Museum told KOMO News. “It’s a treasure here, we always encourage folks from outside the community to come visit the attractions.”

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