Memorial and reflection spaces across Lennox Gardens, including the Canberra Rotary Peace Bell, were covered with graffiti, most likely on New Year’s Eve.

 

The vandalism also affected the pagoda, Spanish and Israeli memorials, a memorial to murdered Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, and other spaces have been covered with offensive messages. Many relate to the current Gaza conflict, but others use obscenities, suggest violence towards police and that capitalism kills.

 

For anyone interested in more detail, The Riotact has a comprehensive article (https://the-riotact.com/graffiti-attack-on-canberras-peace-bell-lennox-gardens-memorials-feels-like-a-violation/734006) and an insightful letter from the Editor (https://the-riotact.com/letter-from-the-editor-if-youre-going-to-mount-a-political-protest-at-least-make-it-smart/734119),

 

Thanks to prompt action from the ACT Government (via its City Services) all the monuments within Lennox Gardens have now been cleaned, including the Peace Bell and its deck.