Sacramento police are investigating vandalism of a Latino heritage mural at Southside Park as organizers seek donations to restore the community project.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A Latino heritage mural project in Southside Park was discovered vandalized Friday, according to the Sacramento Police Department.

Police say officers responded just before 4 p.m. to the park after receiving a report of vandalism. The caller told police they believed it was a hate crime. Officers conducted an investigation and took a bias vandalism report, while Crime Scene Investigators documented the damage.

At the scene, gray paint was splattered across multiple sections of the mural, including a panel featuring the Mexican flag.

According to Desiree Rojas, chair of the Albert M. Rojas Foundation, the mural was planned to be celebrated during a community event on Sept. 27.

Airbrush artist Chino Soto, who painted portions of the mural, said he was frustrated to discover the damage.

“They didn’t have no right to do that,” Soto said. “That’s a lot of work.”

“It looked like they aimed it at the flag,” Soto said.

Soto said the portions of the mural he painted are about four months old and took him about three to four weeks to complete. He said the damaged section will have to be repainted.

Project manager Richard Alcala said volunteers had been working on the mural the day before and found the damage when they returned Friday.

“We’re doing this for the community and for Sacramento,” Alcala said. “The fact that they deliberately targeted the Mexican flag tells us a lot.”

Alcala said the project has been funded through donations and his own money, estimating he has invested about $40,000.

“I put in $40,000 of my own money to get this done,” Alcala said.

Alcala asked anyone with information about the vandalism to contact police.

Rojas said the vandalism damaged a project honoring Latino leaders and local history.

“Every dollar matters at this point,” Rojas said. “If you could please consider $1, $5, $25 — what you can.”

She said community members interested in donating can contact Alcala through Facebook or visit the La Cultura bookstore in Sacramento.

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