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Hate Crime Targets Black Eugenean's Car, Driveway

Provided by Ronald Visconti.

A Black resident in Eugene’s River Road area is grateful for the support he’s received after his car was vandalized with a racist slur.

Warning: This story may be disturbing to some listeners.

Ronald Visconti who is Puerto Rican and Black, moved to Eugene over three years ago.  Monday morning he discovered someone painted the N-word along the entire length of the driver’s side of his vehicle, and a noose was found on a recycling container…the second one in as many weeks.

Credit Provided by Ronald Visconti.
A noose was found on Visconti's recycling container as well, the second one since last week.

Visconti suspects a neighbor may have committed the act, but has no immediate proof.

“Somebody said it was a homeless person that might’ve done it. It wasn’t a homeless person. Nothing was looked through, and a piece of rope to a homeless person is priceless right now," scoffed Visconti. 

"I don’t have any words for the love that shown toward my family in this situation.  People want to come help with my car, get the paint off, help buy us cameras.”

Visconti’s wife set up a GoFundMe accountto cover the damage to the car, and it’s already exceeded the goal.

The Lane County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident.

Copyright 2021, KLCC.

Brian Bull is an assistant professor of journalism at the University of Oregon, and remains a contributor to the KLCC news department. He began working with KLCC in June 2016.   In his 27+ years as a public media journalist, he's worked at NPR, Twin Cities Public Television, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, Wisconsin Public Radio, and ideastream in Cleveland. His reporting has netted dozens of accolades, including four national Edward R. Murrow Awards (22 regional),  the Ohio Associated Press' Best Reporter Award, Best Radio Reporter from  the Native American Journalists Association, and the PRNDI/NEFE Award for Excellence in Consumer Finance Reporting.
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