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Violent Jew-Beater Pleads Guilty, Sentenced to 18 Months

UPDATE October 2, 2023: Three men who assaulted a Jew near a pro-Israel rally in Times Square in 2021 each pleaded guilty this week to a hate crime and will spend years in prison.

Mahmoud Musa and Mohammed Othman pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of second-degree assault as a hate crime, and Mohammed Said Othman pleaded guilty Friday to second-degree attempted gang assault and third-degree assault as a hate crime, for a May 20, 2021 attack that left the victim, Joseph Borgen, with multiple injuries including a concussion; more here.

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Waseem Awawdeh, one of five defendants charged with targeting a Jewish man in a brazen antisemitic attack that drew an outcry from New York City’s Jewish community, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to attempted assault and criminal possession of a weapon, a spokesperson for the Manhattan district attorney’s office confirmed.

He will be sentenced on June 13th to 12 months in jail for attempted assault in the second degree as a hate crime and six months for criminal possession in the fourth degree, the spokesperson told Jewish Insider on Tuesday, noting that his sentences will be served consecutively. He was also required to make a public apology.

The sentencing effectively concludes one major chapter in a case that had drawn scrutiny from Jewish leaders in New York who alleged that Awawdeh had been given an overly lenient plea bargain amid a troubling surge in antisemitic violence.

Awawdeh, who was accused of striking Joseph Borgen four times with a crutch during a gang assault in Midtown Manhattan two years ago, had previously been offered a six-month plea deal, spurring protests from Jewish activists.

Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney, defended his approach to the case in an interview with JI in January, saying his “focus” was on the “evidence that will be put forth and that does come forward during our investigation.”

Awawdeh had reportedly called Borgen a “dirty Jew” during the attack and later said he would “do it again.” He did not initiate the assault and left before it was over, the spokesperson for Bragg’s office told JI earlier this year. He had no prior criminal convictions.

NGO StopAntisemitism shared the good news with their followers on social media. Although the sentence was light, it was a step in the right direction to punish those who espouse violent antisemitic views.

On Monday, meanwhile, another defendant charged in the case, Faisal Elezzi, pleaded guilty to attempted assault in the third degree as a hate crime, the spokesperson confirmed. He will be sentenced on June 8 to three years’ probation and is required to comply with anti-bias programming through Queens Counseling for Change, the spokesperson said. 

Elezzi was also required to give a public apology for participating in the attack against Borgen, a Jewish resident of Nassau County who was violently beaten while walking to a pro-Israel demonstration in Manhattan during the May 2021 conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Borgen, who has said he was wearing a yarmulke when he was targeted, has recalled being punched, kicked and pepper-sprayed during the attack. The incident, which coincided with a sharp uptick in antisemitic incidents across New York, was captured on video. Borgen was hospitalized after the assault.

“Antisemitic hate has no place in Manhattan, and these defendants have now pled guilty to hate crime charges and apologized for their actions following a thorough investigation by the office,” the spokesperson for Bragg’s office said in a statement to JI. “We will continue to seek accountability for the remaining defendants, who are all facing significant state prison time if convicted.”

The next court appearance for those defendants is scheduled for May 11, when a trial date is expected to be chosen, according to the district attorney’s office.

Montreal Teen Arrested for Burning Israeli Flags

UPDATE May 17, 2023: 16 year old teen who burned the Israeli flag outside of a Montreal Jewish Day School has been sentenced to 1 year of probation with an order to stay away from the Jewish community.; more here..

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The Montreal police hate-crime unit has arrested a 16-year-old boy in connection with the burning of Israeli flags taken from a West Island school on Wednesday.

The boy will face charges of theft, arson, and mischief, said Montreal police spokesperson Véronique Dubuc.

“It’s possible that other arrests will eventually be made in this case,” she said.

Security was beefed up around Hebrew Foundation School after the private Jewish elementary school in Dollard-des-Ormeaux was targeted.

A video of the incident, posted by NGO StopAntisemitism on social media, shows a young man ripping five flags off a fence outside the school; the flags are then thrown on a fire elsewhere.

The flags were set up outside the school to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Israeli independence. Several thousand Montrealers took part in Israel Day events on Wednesday.

Montreal police quickly called in their hate-crimes unit to investigate. While it has yet to be officially deemed a hate crime, “we take these things very seriously,” a spokesperson said.

North Carolina College Campus Vandalized with Antisemitic Slurs

Davidson College is condemning a photo circulating on social media that shows racist and antisemitic graffiti on school grounds.

In a statement, a representative for the college said the graffiti was found on the blackboard of an outdoor classroom.

“This act is threatening and an affront to the sense of community that binds us,” the statement reads. “At Davidson, all of us are called to honor the dignity and worth of every person. We value religious and racial diversity and inclusion, while we deplore racism and bigotry and advocate for a more just world.”

The school stressed that its community should feel safe and supported on campus.

“Even though we know that racism and bigotry exist in our society, it is still shocking and distressing when they show up on campus in such a bold and aggressive way and with messages of violence,” the statement says. “This violation wounds people we love and value. We all need to recognize and respect their pain. We need to speak up to defend and support them and our values as a community.”

The school vowed to support community members who feel targeted, and said Davidson police are investigating. Officers are also increasing their presence to ensure the safety of students and staff, the school said.

Davidson College’s Center for Student Diversity & Inclusion, Chaplain’s Office and Counseling teams are available for students who need support. The school also encouraged employees to contact the Employee Assistance Program.

“Thank you for your support of each other,” the statement concludes.

Vandals Plague Philadelphia Town with Antisemitic Symbols

Hate crimes have spiked since 2022, with experts saying that incidents of reported antisemitism rose to a record high across the U.S. as a whole. And recently in Tredyffrin Township, swastikas were discovered to have been spray-painted over signs throughout the town.

"I'm a Holocaust survivor and it just hit me between the eyes," said Howard Griffel of Chesterbrook.

Griffel is reliving the pain of his past after discovering the swastikas around the area.

"First shock, then sadness. There were tears and then anger," he recalled.

He took several photos of the vandalism and notified the police immediately. Within 24 hours, the hate symbols were removed.

But, it's not the first time something like this has happened. Police arrested a suspect in a similar incident that happened in March.

"We ended up arresting a 15-year-old male juvenile for those crimes," said Lieutenant Tyler Moyer from the Tredyffrin Township police. "We didn't have any for about three weeks, and last week they started popping up again."

Sadly the hate didn't stop. Police say seven other incidents happened in a matter of three days last week.

Tracking down those vandals is proving difficult, however, so officials are asking for the community's help.

"If you live near Chesterbrook, behind the Gateway Shopping Center, on Devon State Road, check your doorbell cameras, check your surveillance cameras, and see if you notice any unusual people or vehicles in that area between the hours of 12 a.m. and 5 a.m.," said Moyer.

Whoever vandalized the neighborhood is facing criminal mischief and ethnic intimidation charges.

Texas Police Investigating Campaign Signs Vandalized with Swastikas

Irving, Texas, police are investigating claims some campaign signs were stolen and at least one spray painted over with a swastika.

The sign that was vandalized was promoting Matt Varble, who is running for city council Place 5.  Varble saw the sign upon arriving at Irving Arts Center to vote and contacted the police.

"This incident made me feel very offended and shocked that this type of antisemitic behavior and theft of signs would happen in a city council race,” said Varble.

In social media posts, Varble says he knows the suspect and that the suspect is a supporter of Mark Cronenwett, his opponent in the city council race.  Varble provided video proof for his accusation to Spectrum News 1.

Cronenwett, a business attorney by trade, has received the endorsement of Families for Irving, but according to a report, Varble has denounced Families for Irving for an ethics complaint filed against the organization.

Meanwhile, Varbles received the endorsement of the Irving Police Association.

Swastika Discovered at Dartmouth College Common Space

An unknown person or group carved a swastika into dirt on The Green of Dartmouth College, a five-acre, grassy common space at the center of the school’s campus.

Dartmouth’s provost office confirmed that the incident took place on Thursday, The Dartmouth reported on Friday. Officials had the symbol removed, which appeared just several days after the campus community observed Holocaust Remembrance Day, “immediately,” the paper said.

“Antisemitism has been on the rise in the US and has no place at Dartmouth,” the provost office wrote in an email sent to students and staff.

Thursday’s incident marks Dartmouth’s first antisemitic incident on the Green since a former student, Carlos Wilcox, vandalized a a public menorah on campus by shooting it with a pellet gun during the 2020 Hanukkah holiday.

The 20-year-old Bronx, New York native also shot the windows of several college buildings, causing $1,500 in damage in total. Wilcox, who managed to dodge a hate crime charge and was charged with felony criminal mischief, was expelled from the college and banned from campus.

Swastika Spree Continues Around Boston Towns

On the same day antisemitic graffiti was found spray-painted on the walkway at the West Natick MBTA station, similar graffiti was found on a construction trailer in Framingham.

Police spokeswoman Lt. Rachel Mickens said that shortly after 8 a.m. last Friday, a swastika was found spray-painted on the trailer in an empty lot on Walnut Street.

It's unknown whether the two incidents are connected. "We don't know how long it was there," said Mickens. "The lot is empty, other than the trailer. We don't know if it had been there, and no one saw it or if it was new."

Mayor Charlie Sisitsky said in a statement that he was "saddened" to hear of the incident.

In the Natick incident, someone discovered the swastika on Friday morning. A resident later covered up the graffiti with a chalk drawing of flowers and the words "Hate has no place here."

The Chabad Center of Natick on Sunday held a march from the spot of the graffiti to the Chabad Center for a community event, where Natick Police Chief James Hicks and others spoke.

Hicks said Monday that there have been no arrests and that the Natick incident remains under investigation.

Germany Fines Twitter $55 Million for Ignoring Antisemitic Content

Earlier this month, Germany’s Federal Justice Office began the process of fining Twitter, under the country’s Network Enforcement Act, for failing to remove hate speech. The German law requires social-media sites to remove illegal content within seven days, and for the most egregious material, within 24 hours.

The German office stated publicly that hateful material was published on Twitter, “which the authority considers illegal and, despite user complaints, was not deleted or blocked by the provider within the legally stipulated periods.”

Reportedly, Twitter faces a fine as high as €50 (nearly $55 million) in Germany. An email to a Twitter press account auto-replied with an excrement emoji, as Twitter owner Elon Musk has tweeted it would, and it wasn’t immediately clear how to otherwise reach a spokesperson.

In January, a German activist group sued Twitter for hosting content denying the Holocaust, which is a crime in Germany.

One of Musk’s first publicized decisions after buying the company was to decrease the content moderation division. Many saw that as welcoming hateful speech, while others had long believed that division was driven by partisan politics.

Since Musk took over Twitter, there have been reports that antisemitism has increased on the platform, as well as on other social networks. NGO StopAntisemitism is one of the leading Jewish organizations calling upon Musk to better address the widespread uprising in antisemitic content on Twitter.

Europe has stricter laws about free speech than the United States does, and Musk had told the European Union he would comply with those rules.

Antisemitic, Transphobic 'GDL' Flyers Found in East Atlanta Neighborhood

The Atlanta community is on heightened awareness after apparent antisemitic and transphobic flyers were seen posted in the east side of the city. White supremacist group 'Goyim Defense League' are canvasing the Georgia state in a targeted harassment campaign against Jews and members of the LGBTQ+ community

Atlanta Police issued a statement Sunday night saying they have been made aware after the flyers with anitsemitic and transphobic messages were reportedly seen in the areas of Candler Park and Lake Claire.

APD said they are not aware of any criminal behavior related to it, but are increasing patrol in the neighborhoods in which they were distributed.

They were found along Murray Hill Avenue, just east of Pullman Yards, according to a tipster.

The flyers appear to a show a large rainbow-colored Star of David and has a number of issues of antisemitic nature and transphobic language.

In the statement, APD said their Homeland Security Unit was quickly notified and they area currently investigating.

This comes just a little over two months after a number of Sandy Springs residents received antisemitic literature overnight, including Ga. House Rep. Esther Panitch. The Sandy Springs defense attorney said she woke up with literature inside Ziplock bags that also included kernels of corn.

"Welcome to being a Jew in Georgia," she said in the Tweet. "Govern yourselves accordingly, GDL and Antisemites who seek to harm/intimidate Jews in Georgia. I’m coming for you with the weight of the State behind me."

Jewish Student's Mezuzah Forcibly Removed at a University in Boston

Sophomore Luciana Libis was shocked by an act of antisemitism occurring in her South Hall dorm at Simmons University on March 27. According to Libis, she is the only observant, practicing Orthodox Jew who lives on the residence campus. That morning, she noticed that her mezuzah had been torn down.

“I was distraught,” said Libis in an interview with the Voice. “What it meant to me, as an openly Jewish woman, is that a 5-inch by 1-inch by 1-inch box is too much space for me to take up at Simmons University.”

Immediately, Libis took a picture of what had happened and sent it to her Hillel Advisor, Celine Sanborn, who supported Libis throughout her next steps. They worked together to fill out an EthicsPoint, which is a form that Simmons uses to handle bullying and discrimination. Once it is filled out, the form is transferred to the appropriate administrator. 

NGO StopAntisemitism shared the image and news with their followers on Twitter.

Libis also contacted The Office of Residence Life and spoke with her Area Coordinator. Sanborn accompanied her to the Public Safety and Student Affairs offices, and Libis also contacted the Title IX office and her Resident Advisor. 

Sanborn, along with the Office of Student Affairs, are unable to provide comment on this story until the investigation of this incident has concluded.

“[Simmons] is doing the best they can at the moment,” says Chelsea Kranc, Vice President of Simmons Hillel. “It’s always difficult when something like this happens on campus because we have to follow protocol…it takes more than a day to make change happen.”

Libis and Kranc were asked about how the Simmons community could become better allies to Jewish individuals. Both emphasized wider discussions about antisemitism on campus in general, along with anti-Semitism training in conjunction with the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training that already occurs during orientation. 

In addition, they added that supporting Jewish students on campus is vital. Both also mentioned having Kosher options in dining halls. 

“To make True Balance [in Bartol Hall] Kosher, they would have to buy hectured food which is labeled kosher and have a mashgiach (Jewish person) supervise the cooking,” said Libis.  

Libis added that True Balance is already dairy and shellfish free, so by implementing the above ideas, along with no longer serving pork, and using separate equipment and kitchens, the station could become fully Kosher. 

Helping students during holidays was also duly noted; for example, some Jews do not use any form of electricity on Shabbat, which includes tap access to buildings. A student who is not observing Shabbat can easily tap an observant student into any building on campus.

“The Jewish community is very unified and tight-knit as students, not just members of Hillel,” said Kranc. “Students who know someone who experienced an act of anti-Semitism can band together and support one another.”

NYPD Downplays Antisemitic Hate Crime Assault

A female police officer in Crown Heights’s 71st NYPD Precinct – who decided to cover up a possible hate crime – is now in the hot seat after the enraged victim went public with his shocking story.

The incident unfolded Saturday late evening after Shabbat on Eastern Parkway alongside Rochester Park between Utica Ave and Rochester Ave around 2:15am when the Jewish victim and two friends were approached by a group of five black male teenagers. One of the group suddenly veered towards the victim, saying “You f*cking Jewish murderers” as he slapped him in the back of the head and knocking his yarmulka off.

According to the shocked victim, the attacker continued to spew hate as he walked away saying “Gotchu you monkeys” as they entered Rochester Park.

The Jewish advocacy group exposing Jew hatred - StopAntisemitism - tweeted about the incident, stating it was outrageous.

The incident was witnessed by another Jewish man who quickly took action to intervene. Shomrim and 911 were called, with the volunteers and responders from the 77th Precinct arriving quickly. Unfortunately, as the incident took place in the 71st Precinct, nothing could be done by the NYPD until an officer from the correct Precinct arrived.

And when they did finally arrive, things went from bad to worse. “We called the police and got a call back,” the victim told CrownHeights.info. “She says ‘Why would someone slap you?’ She gave me the feeling that she did not believe me so much.”

The arriving officer, identified as 16 year veteran of the NYPD Officer Jennifer Livingston, stepped out of her patrol car, and without even doing any investigation, is quoted by the victim and witness as having said “I already spoke with my supervisor, it’s not going to be a hate crime.”

In front of the shocked victim and witnesses, the officer went on to downplay the incident and refused to call for a supervising officer even when asked to directly.

The incident went downhill from there.

“I felt that the attitude of the policewoman was not too positive,” one of the witnesses of the assault told CrownHeights.info. “She was questioning our story, questioning our validity that such a thing could happen.”

The officers took the victim on the obligatory “canvass search”, where the victim is driven around in an effort to find the perpetrators. As soon as they entered the park, they were flagged down by a group of people who had also been targeted by the group.

According to one of the victim’s friends who joined the canvas of the park, the officer immediately began to again downplay the incident. “So she started saying how it could have been free speech, and that they can express themselves the way they want.”

When the officers and victim completed their canvas and arrived back at the scene of the crime, the female officer and her partner’s NYPD-issued body cameras had been turned off, after which they proceeded to thoroughly throw the entire incident under the rug.

“While taking the report, the officer literally victim-shamed the Jewish man,” another witness who requested to remain anonymous told CrownHeights.info. “She told him in essence that he should have stayed off the sidewalk and it was his fault he was there.”

After initially not wanting to take any report at all, the officer eventually relented, taking the victim’s story and reporting it as an harassment.

Understandably, the victim and witnesses were furious. When pressed on why the incident was not being handled as a possible hate crime, the officer stated that the NYPD takes reports based on what the Brooklyn District Attorney will prosecute, leaving the incident to be reported as a simple harassment.

“She took down the information and said it was not a hate crime,” the victim said.

Stuck without recourse, the victim and witnesses spoke with CrownHeights.info, hoping to pull the mask off of this corrupt cop in the 71st Precinct.

Contacted by CrownHeights.info about the crime, a source from the 71st precinct stated that the officers involved have been retrained on investigating bias incidents and will be subjected to disciplinary action as a result of improperly reporting the incident.

More Antisemitic 'GDL' Flyers Canvas Brevard County Florida

Republican Rep. Randy Fine reported on Twitter that his son found birthday greetings for Adolf Hitler on his Brevard County driveway in a manner that mirrored similar antisemitic droppings in South Florida neighborhoods that are heavily Jewish.

Fine, who regularly references growing up Jewish on the House floor and in committee, posted a photo of the flyer showing Hitler, his date of birth — April 20, 1889 — and a clip art birthday cake. He said it was in a plastic bag weighted down with rocks Saturday morning.

“My 11-year-old son found this …” Fine tweeted about the flyer that also said in all caps under Hitler’s picture, “Died fighting the eternal enemy, the Jews.”

Fine’s tweet referenced legislation (HB 269) that would make dropping these messages a third-degree felony.

“Hope these animals had a good time,” Fine tweeted. “Soon enough this will get them sent to prison for five years. #NazisGoingToJail.”

Fine did not immediately return a Florida Politics call seeking more information.

The bill, “Public Nuisances,” won every vote in the House Thursday, ironically enough, Hitler’s birthday. Similar Senate legislation that Republican Alexis Calatayud introduced, has been substituted for the House version and currently awaits another hearing.

The bill would upgrade dropping materials with “religious or ethnic animus” from a littering citation to an act punishable with prison time.

Some have worried, however, that it violates the First Amendment right to free expression.

The dropping at FIne’s home in unincorporated Brevard County comes the same week that Fine was featured in a Washington Post story about the Volusia County Sheriff’s work to stop antisemitism.

“If they want to walk down the street, waving a sign, saying Randy Fine should be in the ovens, that is their right,” Fine is quoted in the article as saying. “But they can’t throw that sign in my front yard. And they can’t project that on my house.”

Fine also had a high-profile role as the House passed his bill that makes it a crime for venues to admit children to a “live performance” with prosthetic breasts and genitalia.

“There is evil in this world and we face it here today,” Fine said, as he closed on his controversial bill.

Charlotte NC High School Investigates Student Dressed in KKK Hood Making Nazi Salute

An investigation is underway after photos started circulating on social media showing someone on the Lake Norman High School campus wearing graduation robes and a white pointed hood, similar to what a member of the Ku Klux Klan would wear. In one of the pictures, the person is making a gesture similar to a Nazi salute.

Magnolia Gray, who has a relative at the school, said she received the photos Friday and was shocked. "I'm horrified," Gray said. "I'm floored. I'm shocked. It is the most horrifying thing in the world."

The Jewish advocacy group fighting Jew hatred - StopAntisemitism - shared its disgust on Twitter with its nearly 70,000 followers.

She said the person in the pictures, who her relative told her is a student, needs to learn from this incident. "I would like him to sit down and talk to other people, and maybe get a different idea of the world," Gray said.

A parent also forwarded WCNC Charlotte a voicemail from Lake Norman High School, which addressed the incident and shared that an investigation was underway.

The message is purportedly from the school's assistant principal and states, in part, "Lake Norman High School and the Iredell-Statesville Schools do not condone this unacceptable act of discrimination. If anyone has information regarding this photo, please reach out to the school administration. Racial harassment, discrimination, hate speech, or degradation of any kind will not be tolerated and does not represent our high school or our school district. Acts such as this are a disgrace to our community, and those involved will be disciplined to the fullest extent."

Montreal Teen Charged in Antisemitic Attack of Two Jewish Men

A minor accused of attacking two Hasidic men in Montreal last January has turned himself into police one day after surveillance photos of the suspect were released publicly.

Montreal police (SPVM) said in a news release that the youth appeared in court Thursday and was released with conditions until his next court date on May 5.

On Wednesday, police released video and photo surveillance footage showing one of two assaults on members of the Hasidic Jewish community in the city's Outremont borough. In a rare move, the police service decided to release the images showing the suspect's face on an "exceptional" basis, even though they suspected he might have been minor. Those images have now been removed since an arrest has been made.

According to police, the same suspect was involved in both incidents on Jan. 20, which happened less than an hour apart.

Police said the first incident happened around 9:50 p.m. near the corner of Van Horne and Bloomfield avenues. The suspect insulted a man, "pushing him violently and throwing him to the ground," they said in a press release.

The suspect fled the scene and joined a group of people around the same age as him on Van Horne Avenue.

Video footage of the alleged assault shows an individual walking on the sidewalk, running over a snowbank, and pushing someone with two hands. The victim falls to the ground in the middle of the street, then gets up and collects his hat before walking away.

Around 10:25 p.m., near the corner of Bernard and Outremont avenues, a second victim suffered a "violent kick in the lower back" which threw him to the ground, according to police.

Northern California Town Targeted with Antisemitic 'GDL' Flyers

Several antisemitic fliers were found at homes in Anderson early Friday morning, according to the Anderson Police Department (APD).

Officers say they were notified of the fliers distributed along Stingy Lane around 6:30 a.m.

The fliers direct people to visit a known anti-Semitic website, according to the APD. It's being investigated as a hate crime.

Police are asking those living along Stingy Lane and neighboring streets to check home security systems for any video of the distribution.

Anyone with additional information should call the APD at (530) 245-6256. Anonymous tips can also be sent via the tip portal or to tips@andersonpolice.org.

Mural Dedicated to Holocaust Victims in Milan Vandalized after Holocaust Memorial Day

A mural dedicated to Holocaust victims in Milan was vandalized on Wednesday, a day after Yom HaShoah. 

As part of the "Track 21, The Simpsons deported to Auschwitz" series by artist AleXsandro Palombo, the mural had been displayed on the walls of the Memorial of the Shoah since January 27th, International Day of Remembrance. 

The artwork, which portrays the Simpson family in Nazi concentration camps, aims to raise awareness of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust and the importance of remembering them.

The vandalized mural was defaced with black marks and the yellow Stars of David, representing the Auschwitz uniforms worn by the characters, were painted over.

Security cameras at the museum captured the perpetrator's face. The act of vandalism has sparked outrage among the community, with many condemning the desecration of the artwork and the disrespect shown towards Holocaust victims.

"We will proceed in the next few days to verify the footage from the cameras trying to identify the person responsible," the President of the Foundation Memorial of the Shoah in Milan, Roberto Jarach said in a statement. "What worries us is to see in this act a possible revisionist an antisemitic tendency. What we hope is that the rest of the citizenry will respond with its opposite, with solidarity and empath, demonstrating that the fight against indifference is the key to overcoming racist and anti-democratic tendencies.

"For us, this is a stimulus to work even more, especially with young people, better, with ever great creativity. We hope that the artist will come back to 'fix' the work, or expand it, as a further response."

Palombo explained that the murals are intended to be a universal language that promotes memory and awareness of the Holocaust's horrors. 

He expressed his disappointment at the vandalism, stating that the black marks covering the yellow stars are reminiscent of attempts to censor and distort Holocaust history.

"Confronting antisemitism is always disgusting, which is the case here. However, if the racist's goal was to diminish Holocaust commemoration, I judge that they failed," Jeffrey Demsky, professor in the History department and Political Science at San Bernardino Valley College and expert in American cultural representations of the Holocaust. "Blacking out the Stars of David, identifying Jews as the Nazis' specific targets only confirm this fact. The vandal's pen mark unintentionally forces onlookers to remember the truth of the missing yellow identity label.

"Similarly, desecrating the artist's mural and public space that welcomes it only bolsters the memorialization's importance. Graffiti takes on power by marring important structures and images. Targeting a national Holocaust memorial demonstrates that these criminals nonetheless recognize its enduring significance in Western liberal societies."

Authorities are investigating the incident and working to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The Foundation Memorial of the Shoah in Milan has been visited by over 90,000 people since the beginning of January 2023, and 42,000 of the visitors were students.

Jewish Student Gifted Swastika at South Carolina High School

A disturbing moment in the classroom leads to disciplinary action. A Fort Mill student, who is Jewish, says a classmate gave him a swastika symbol.

His mother is outraged by the school district’s response. Because of the nature of the story, she wanted to remain anonymous.

“I don’t think it’s just bullying,” she said. “This is absolutely antisemitism.”

She says her 10th-grade son experienced something she never thought he’d have to go through as a young Jewish man. During class, her son briefly left the room only to return to this on his desk.

“Another student had taken what appears to be, maybe, a cupcake wrapper or something from somebody else, drew a swastika in black, and put it on his desk,” she said. 

The mother says it happened on April 10th at Catawba Ridge High School.

Her son went directly to the vice principal and reported the incident — with witness accounts.

The school district responded to Queen City News’ request for comment, stating:

“The district cannot share specifics regarding student discipline matters due to privacy laws. The school did receive a report of this situation, and following an investigation, the responsible party was identified and received discipline under district policy.“

The mom says she was hoping to receive a more aggressive approach.

“I wasn’t asking for the student’s name. But I just wanted to know that the appropriate actions were going to be taken,” she said.

The district says it followed several policies ‘such as JICstudent conduct, JICDA code of conduct, JICFAA harassment, intimidation or bullying, JK student discipline, etc.’

The harassment, intimidation, or bullying policy ‘defines those acts as a gesture, electronic communication, or a written, verbal, physical, or sexual act reasonably perceived to have the effect of insulting or demeaning a student or group of students causing substantial disruption or interference with the orderly operation of the school.’

“I don’t know if he understands how vulgar this symbol is for Jews, but I think it could’ve been handled differently,” she said. 

Massachusetts Woman Charged with Intimidating Jewish Neighbors with Antisemitic Messages

A woman has been charged with leaving five swastikas in the yard of a Stoneham, Massachusetts, court documents show.

Kathleen Collins, of Woburn, faces a civil rights violation and a felony charge of intimidating a witness over the incident, discovered the day after Halloween, according to documents filed in Woburn District Court. They reveal that police suspect that Collins was targeting the woman who lived at the home, a lawyer who had represented her ex-boyfriend in a child custody dispute.

Stoneham police had previously confirmed that they were investigating the incident, in which five pieces of purple paper cut into swastikas were found on the lawn along with a melted candle, as a hate crime.

The family that was targeted, which is Jewish, has previously told NBC10 Boston they were disturbed by what happened, and the attorney allegedly targeted in the incident said Wednesday that she hopes Collins faces culpability for the actions.

Collins told NBC10 Boston she denied the charges, which she's due to face in court next month.

The swastikas had hateful and antisemitic messages written on them, including "Go to hell." According to the court documents, the police investigation found that Collins had previously said the attorney had "got it coming to her" and urged her ex not to cooperate in the investigation — leading to a witness intimidation charge.

The incident shook the community — state Rep. Michael Day called it "a disgraceful, horrific incident for our community" — and came amid a rise of antisemitism and other acts of hate statewide and around the country.