Spokeswoman Heather Keen of the Coeur d'Alene Indian Tribe reports that the Idaho Department of Transportation has already replaced the historical market contaminated with racist graffiti. She encourages anyone with information about this incident to call the Idaho State Police or Crime Stoppers at 1800-222-8477. (Courtesy photo: Coeur d'Alene Tribe)

Tony Stewart of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations sent the following letter to the Coeur d'Alene Indian Tribe re: racist vandalism found on the DeSmet Mission historical marker over the weekend: "It is with great sadness and concern that we have learned about the hate message scrawled on the Coeur d’Alene Tribal historical sign. It is obvious that the perpetrator or perpetrators have engaged in the most hideous form of racism that has emerged from their deep seated bigotry and prejudice. This is clearly a hate crime with the intent to promote anger and hatred directed at the good people of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe. It is unfortunately another example to remind us that we still have a challenge in eradicating racism from the world’s society. We condemn and denounce in the strongest terms this act of hatred." Full letter here. (Courtesy photo of vandalism: Coeur d'Alene Indian Tribe)

Question: Do you consider the vandalism to the DeSmet Mission historical marker to be a hate crime?