In the Cut Barbershop, a community fixture for more than 20 years, was vandalized with a racial slur spray-painted in large black and red letters.

Owner Eric Williams and his family say they were shocked. “We’d just said we’d never experienced racism firsthand-and then this happened,” said his daughter, Terryn Williams.

Mayor Nick Shelton condemned the graffiti in a Facebook post, calling it “hateful” and saying, “This is not who we are in Niles. Hate has no place here.”

Williams told WSBT he’s leaving the graffiti up temporarily as a reminder that racism still exists.

The community has rallied in support, with calls, donations, and offers of help coming from Niles and beyond. Plans are underway to cover the slur with a mural.