Police say they are searching for a suspect in connection to vandalizing a Black Lives Matter and Trans Lives Matter mural in Norwood.

A friend of the original mural painter on East 204th Street and Perry Avenue went to spray-paint over the racist and homophobic slurs scrawled across the positive messages of inclusion.

Big red X’s, swear words and insults covered the painter’s call for no sexism, no racism and no transphobia.

The painting was done on the side of a hardware store. 

People in the area say they are upset that someone would disrespect the mural and the community.

Police say they are investigating this incident as a hate crime.