The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is investigating the vandalization of a wall next to the historic Canter’s Deli as a possible hate crime, according to CBS News.
The incident occurred Wednesday when someone called the police over messages such as “Free Gaza,” “How many dead in the name of greed?” and “Israel’s only religion is capitalism” sprayed underneath a wall with murals honoring the Jewish community, CBS News reported. (RELATED: ‘An Insult To All Americans’: Alan Dershowitz Blasts Biden Over Anti-Islamophobia Push)
The Los Angeles Police Department has launched a hate crime investigation after antisemitic messages were spray painted onto a wall next to the historic Canter’s Deli. https://t.co/qf5UcfYvhk
— KCAL News (@kcalnews) November 2, 2023
ADL California tweeted photos of the vandalism.
The surge of antisemitic hatred continues. ADL Los Angeles Regional Director @jeffreyabrams comments on a spree of antisemitic graffiti found in West LA today. Thank you @LAPDHQ for investigating this. pic.twitter.com/b7AcUJcrNY
— ADL California (@ADLCalifornia) November 1, 2023
“Thankfully, the murals themselves were not defaced,” American Jewish Committee regional director Richard Hirschhaut told CBS. “This vitriolic, ugly graffiti was scrawled below and the message was heard, and the message was felt as yet another gut punch to the Jewish community.”
The graffiti has since been cleaned up and police are still searching for a suspect, CBS reported.
Hirschhaut applauded the police response. He commended the LAPD “for their quick response, and cleanup” and expressed gratitude for “their investigation into this hateful vandalism.”
#AJCLA is disgusted by last night’s spree of antisemitic graffiti targeting multiple locations in the Fairfax district of @LACity, cowardly acts committed under the cover of Halloween. We applaud @LAPDWilshire for their quick response, and cleanup, and appreciate their…
— Rick Hirschhaut (@rickhirschhaut) November 1, 2023
Antisemitic threats have spiked in the U.S. following the terrorist group Hamas’ surprise Oct. 7 attack on Israel. The attack sparked a war between the two parties and left at least 1,400 dead in the Jewish state, including 31 Americans. The Gaza-based terrorist group has captured hundreds, with five individuals having been freed at the time of writing.