Antisemitic graffiti, including swastikas and other hate speech, appeared in the Edgemont Memorial Park playground last weekend. The markings, made in purple and black marker, are part of an undeniable rise of antisemitism in the United States that is rooted in white supremacist ideology, local rabbis said Tuesday.
The graffiti included seven different phrases written around the playground, along with multiple swastikas, Lt. Terence Turner, a spokesman for the Montclair Police Department, said Tuesday. Phrases included “Jew whore” written on the park gate and “penis Nazi” on a park slide.
The advocacy group StopAntisemitism tweeted about the graffiti, calling it grotesque.
“Jew whore”, swastika, & other antisemitic profanities were among the grotesque graffiti found at a playground in Montclair, NJ
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) December 6, 2022
The Division of Criminal Justice, NJ State Police, and the Essex County Prosecutor's Office are asking anyone with info to call (973) 509-4776 pic.twitter.com/7lIqbKuFL5
Montclair police received a report of the graffiti on Saturday and an officer, along with the Department of Public Works, were able to remove all the markings, Turner said.
“Suspected or confirmed bias incidents are serious and are fully investigated,” Turner said. “This was the only incident of antisemitic graffiti that we have had recently.”
Detective Paul Rusniak, who is specially trained in bias crimes and hate crimes, is investigating the incident, working with the Bias Crimes Unit at the Division of Criminal Justice, the New Jersey State Police, and the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, Turner said. Anyone with information can contact Rusiniak at (973) 509-4776.