Amid an uptick in antisemitic incidents, the Santa Monica Police Division is investigating a number of studies of antisemitic graffiti which have been discovered throughout town in latest days, officers stated.
The graffiti has included swastikas and antisemitic messages emblazoned on sidewalks and light-weight posts, police stated.
“We’re appalled by these cowardly acts of antisemitism,” Santa Monica Police Chief Ramon Batista stated in a assertion. “Our division is totally dedicated to upholding the protection and dignity of all members of our neighborhood.”
A number of the graffiti has been noticed within the Pico neighborhood, close to the 2100 and 2300 blocks of Pico Boulevard, police stated.
One household determined to show the swastikas painted on sidewalks into an artwork mission.
“We’re taking the freedom of constructing it a household anti-defamation artwork mission,” wrote Zachara Lupetin on a Fb put up.
Within the video, the household is seen taking a bucket of chalk to attract over the swastikas.
“We’re going to make them into flowers and butterflies,” Taylor Coffman stated within the video.
It’s unclear what number of incidents had been reported to police from across the metropolis. A spokesperson for the division didn’t instantly reply to a request for info.
On Monday, the Los Angeles Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned the Nazi graffiti.
“Hate of any type should not be tolerated in our communities, and we strongly condemn this blatant show of antisemitism,” CAIR-LA Government Director Hussam Ayloush stated. “The Jewish neighborhood deserves to really feel secure in their very own houses, and these appalling actions infringe on that proper to security.”
In Southern California, a sequence of high-profile incidents, together with assaults and graffiti, have put a highlight to what Jewish civil rights organizations have been been reporting for months — a steep improve in antisemitic incidents.
Weeks after the beginning of the Israel-Hamas battle, antisemitic messages had been discovered painted exterior the well-known Canter’s Deli within the Fairfax district. Antisemitic fliers have been present in Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Culver Metropolis and Huntington Seaside.
On Friday , Gov. Gavin Newsom introduced a “Golden State Plan” meant to handle and fight rising antisemitism within the state.
The plan was made along with the California Legislative Jewish Caucus and different Jewish organizations, together with the Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California.
The plan appears to be like to extend funding for safety at Jewish communities, addressing antisemitic incidents, and making adjustments to pupil codes of conduct at colleges and universities the place a number of the incidents have occurred.
Santa Monica police are asking anybody with details about the graffiti, or to report new incidents, to name (310) 458-8491.
