On Monday, a swastika was spray-painted outside Phantasmagoria Books and Records in Tulsa, Okla., a week after the bookstore had been targeted by white supremacists. Co-owner Shannon Iwanski told Tulsa World that he was straightening a bookshelf after getting to work early when he noticed a man walk up on the sidewalk outside and begin spray-painting graffiti.
Iwanski wasn't sure if the markings might be for construction work or a race until "he started drawing a swastika." The bookseller then unlocked the door and took photos of the incident. The World noted that "surveillance video from a business across the street shows the man walking back to his car on the side of the store, 'unbothered,' Iwanski said. He even took the time to put his spray paint in the trunk of his car." The police have since apprehended a suspect in the case.
Phantasmagoria has previously been targeted twice by a white nationalist group and had protesters during its recent Drag Queen Story Hour. "These people are feeling empowered to do this because that's the mindset in the country right now," Iwanski said. "That's the leadership in the country right now."
But supporters of the store far outnumber its public detractors, he added, noting that "three random people who heard via Facebook about the vandalism showed up ready to work Monday afternoon, donning safety vests and scrubbing the sidewalk just feet from fast-moving traffic."
In an update announcing the arrest, Phantasmagoria posted on Facebook that the suspect "has been referred for a mental health evaluation because he reportedly thought we were an army surplus store that was in this location 25 years ago. He also reportedly sprayed the same graffiti in front of a house where he used to live.
"We are relieved to know this was reportedly not politically or maliciously motivated. Still, we want to thank everyone for their continued support. Regardless of the motivation, we are here for the long haul and will continue to be a positive, inclusive influence for our community."