Racist Graffiti Spray-Painted On Black Market, A Roxbury Business That Helps Black Entrepreneurs

A Boston business that helps nurture black entrepreneurs has been struck by racist graffiti just days before its spring opening.

The phrase "White Lives Matter" was spray-painted on the side of the Black Market space in the city's Roxbury neighborhood.

Co-owner Kai Grant says the graffiti "takes the wind out of you." She added that the neighborhood has been targeted by vandals before, but this is the first time it has had racial tones.

In a Facebook post Wednesday Grant said the defacing of her business was "no surprise to us."

"We live in a city with history so deeply rooted in racism and division, it's not a shock to us that this type of bulls--- occurred," she wrote.

Black Market operates as a space for vendors to sell their goods. Grant said the market generated of $400,000 in revenue for 150 vendors in just 33 days last summer.

Police are trying to determine if a hate crime was committed. Mayor Marty Walsh says such vandalism "will not be tolerated."

With additional reporting from WBUR's Lisa Creamer