Galesburg roller rink vandalized by racial slur

A business owner in Galesburg is cleaning up from the aftermath of a hate crime over the weekend.

Someone spray-painted “get out,” followed by a racial slur, on the front of Michael Spinks’ roller rink.

We told you about the Skate Palace last week. Spinks is trying to raise money to repair the rink’s floors and add other amenities.

Our Quad Cities News reporter Victoria Frazier reports Spinks isn’t letting this incident derail his plans, although he was caught off guard when he arrived at work on Sunday and saw what someone had painted on his building.

“I couldn’t read it until I got up close because you really can’t see it from the street,” Spinks told Our Quad Cities News. “But when I saw the last word then I put everything together and it said ‘get out’ … Well, where do you want me to go?”

Spinks says this is the first time he’s experienced racism at his place of business.

“I’m not asking for any sympathy,” he said. “I’m just basically wanting to keep this place open and make it safe so parents can drop their kids off and have a good time, feel safe and we can just continue.”

Pamela Davidson, president of the NAACP Galesburg Chapter, says this is something that no one should have to endure.

“It’s 2024 and we still have hatred within our area, and it’s not welcomed here in Galesburg,” she said. “It’s not welcomed here. It’s not welcomed anywhere.”

Davidson says people in Galesburg will continue to celebrate a Black-owned business that brings the community together, saying she could not believe a racial sur was on a building that welcomes all people, all colors and all ages.

Galesburg Mayor Peter Schwartzman also reacted to the vandalism. “This action is abhorrent and not reflective of the inclusive and supportive community we have,” he said. “Hate speech will not be tolerated.”

Spinks says while an issue like this is discouraging, it won’t stop him from achieving his goals for the Skate Palace and the community.

“I’m not going anywhere,” Spinks said. “It’s just going to motivate me more to get this floor done and get everything else I want to do on this whole corner. I have six acres here to make a dream and that’s what’s going to happen.”

Spinks isn’t worried about the cost of covering up the graffiti, but more so the principle behind the action.

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