The African Meeting House, vandalized some time over the weekend. (Nantucket Police)
NANTUCKET (WBZ-AM) -- Nantucket Police are investigating what they say looks to be an "act of hate directed at persons of color on the island."
Sometime overnight Saturday, somebody spray-painted racist graffiti on the front door of the historic African Meeting House on York Street in Nantucket.
The graffiti, which police believe was done between 4 p.m. Saturday and 6:45 a.m. Sunday, read "N----- Leave."
"Crimes such as this are not what Nantucket is about," Nantucket Police wrote in a release Sunday. "Nantucket is known for its diverse population and celebrates the diversity of cultures that make up this island community."
Nantucket Police Chief William Pittman said the incident had an impact on the island's African-American community, and said they are investigating it as a hate crime.
"Based on the words that were used and the location that was targeted, you have to look at it as a hate crime," he said.
African Meeting House Executive Director Marita Rivero told WBZ NewsRadio 1030 nothing like this has happened before, but it could happen anywhere.
"I think it's true that, we're all in America, and the things that happen in America having to do with race and this kind of expression happen all over the country," she said. "So I don't know you could say any place is exempt from this."
Rivero said she greatly appreciated the community's response--a number of people came out early Sunday morning to scrub the graffiti off the door.
Nantucket Police have asked the public to contact them with any information about the vandalism.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports