Photo from Wikimedia Commons. A fountain that was part of a Holocaust memorial in Santa Rosa, Calif., was desecrated on June 17 or June 18.
The Santa Rosa Press Democrat reported that the fountain at Santa Rosa Memorial Park was “toppled onto the ground in pieces.” Daniel Judd built the fountain in 2016 in honor of his parents, Lillian and Emil Judd. Lillian was a Holocaust survivor who died from complications of a stroke that year. She had spent her life sharing her experiences during the Holocaust with public audiences.
The fountain can be used for Jews to wash their hands; behind the fountain is a mosaic and a list of 12 Jews who died during the Holocaust. Judd told the Press Democrat that he was concerned that the fountain was vandalized with “malicious intent.” However, he hopes that the community could use the desecration as a way to unite.
“Maybe the community can come together and help us resurrect the fountain and make it a place of healing,” Judd said. “That was always the message for [Lillian].”
Police are investigating the vandalism as a potential hate crime.
StandWithUs Israel Executive Director Michael Dickson tweeted, “An anti-Semitic mind so sick, they did THIS.”
An Antisemitic mind so sick, they did THIS:
A California cemetery’s memorial to Holocaust Holocaust survivors, vandalized https://t.co/kDEoCJZ3Q1 via @jdforward— Michael Dickson (@michaeldickson) June 17, 2020
The desecration of the fountain comes after a Holocaust memorial in Nashville, Tenn., was spray-painted with anti-Semitic and white supremacist messages on June 13.
The Simon Wiesenthal Center tweeted, “In last few days, two #Holocaust memorials in US desecrated by vandals in Tennessee and California. We will never allow the 6 million Jews and lessons of the #Shoah to be erased.”
In last few days, two #Holocaust memorials in US desecrated by vandals in Tennessee and California. We will never allow the 6 million Jews and lessons of the #Shoah to be erased. https://t.co/n5RNL5GJm0
— SimonWiesenthalCntr (@simonwiesenthal) June 17, 2020
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