Wilshire Boulevard Temple. Photo courtesy of downtowngal/Wikicommons. Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Koreatown was vandalized with anti-Semitic graffiti on the morning of January 18.
The graffiti consisted of the words “I hate your race” spray-painted in all capital letters with exclamation marks and crosses.
Breaking – LAPD are currently investigating antisemitic graffiti found at the Wilshire Boulevard Temple.
Surveillance video showed a man writing "I HATE YOUR RACE" on the side of the synagogue early Monday morning. pic.twitter.com/jYcgdwl5iy
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) January 18, 2021
According to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), surveillance footage shows that a male in a hooded sweatshirt committed the vandalism at 2:30 A.M. The matter is being investigated as a hate crime.
Richard S. Hirschhaut, regional director of American Jewish Committee Los Angeles, said in a statement to the Journal, “We are saddened and dismayed to learn of the incident of antisemitic graffiti early this morning outside Wilshire Boulevard Temple’s Koreatown campus. That this hateful act was committed on a day when we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is a reminder that our work of building a more just and respectful society is far from done. We trust that LAPD will bring its full investigative power to identifying and charging the perpetrator of this hate crime.”
Don Levy, director of Communications and Marketing for Wilshire Boulevard Temple, also said in a statement to the Journal, “On this day when we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who chose courage over fear in the face of oppression, ignorance, and violence, we stand strong in our resolve and condemn this hateful act of antisemitic vandalism that defaced our historic sanctuary building. There is no place for hate in a civil society.”
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