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Vandals spray 'White Lives Matter' on side of Roxbury marketplace

BOSTON — They thought the Black Lives Matter backlash was over, but a local marketplace that is an incubator for pro-black small businesses says they were targeted by a hate crime.

Black Market in Roxbury's Dudley Square is an indoor marketplace where 150 local entrepreneurs sell everything from handmade jewelry and clothing to food, all while achieving their own little piece of the American Dream.

"As Roxbury residents, long-term residents, we invested our capital into this space and so for us, this is a labor of love, it's a way for us to give back," said owner Kai Grant.

Grant scraped up her family's retirement savings to open the shop last year and says while the majority of the vendors are black businesses, it is a very diverse group. That's why she was especially disheartened Tuesday when her husband discovered vandals sprayed 'White Lives Matter' on the side of her building.

"It makes me feel bad for somebody who is so egocentric and can't get beyond themselves because this is not about you, this is about us, we are a tribe," said Grant.

Racist graffiti found on the side of a pro-black entrepreneur marketplace in Roxbury. The owner of “Black Market” explains to me why she won’t let it defeat her: Boston 25 News Black Market

Posted by Heather Hegedus Boston 25 on Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Grant says no question, the vandals were responding to the name of the business.

She says no one should have to apologize for being pro-black, which for her, is simply about taking pride in her heritage.

"There's pride in the Irish on March 17," said Grant. "Shame on you because I thought we were one Boston, I thought we were Boston Strong."

The city has offered to clean up the graffiti.

Black Market opens for the season this weekend.

That moment you discover that “WHITE LIVES MATTER” is spray painted on Black Market’s building just days before our...

Posted by Black Market on Wednesday, April 18, 2018