Publishers condemn ‘cowardly and hateful’ Nazi graffiti on Book Council building

An association representing Welsh publishers has put out a statement condemning Nazi graffiti on the HQ of the Books Council of Wales.

The graffiti had appeared on the walls of the Book Council’s headquarters in Castell Brychan, Aberystwyth, last month and was reported to the police.

Cwmwl Cyhoeddwyr Cymru said that as publishers they would challenge the ignorance and division that was behind the graffiti.

“The Welsh language book publishing sector condemns this hateful, cowardly and anonymous act,” Chair Garmon Gruffudd said.

“It is seen by the Cwlwm as a further worrying sign that racism and fascism have not been eradicated from contemporary Wales.

“We, as commissioners and publishers of all kinds of literature for people of all kinds, all over Wales and beyond, respect and cherish the right to express our views and express our identity. These privileges lead to responsibilities to others and principles based on respect, equality and the extension of open arms.

“The abominable slogans seen on Council walls are not in keeping with our principles and we call on individuals, organizations, politicians, broadcasters and information publishers to question and reject any jingoistic, xenophobic and derogatory comments from different languages ​​and cultures – including the Welsh language.

“We, as publishers of Welsh language books and magazines, will continue to publish material that fills the gaps in public knowledge of racism, Welsh history and inequality within this country and nation-state.”

The Chief Executive of the Books Council of Wales, Helgard Krause, condemned racist graffiti written on their headquarters when it appeared last month.

She said that the graffiti which included a back to front swastika and a racist slogan would “do nothing” for the cause of those who wrote the graffiti.

“To whomever who daubed our building in racist and nazi graffiti, it will do nothing for your cause,” the council’s Chief Executive, Helgard Krause, said.

“The opposite, it has strengthened my resolve to address the inequalities that exist in our society wherever we find it.”