Antisemitic Graffiti Found on Maryland Bike Trail

A slew of antisemitic graffiti was found on a bike trail in Maryland on the morning of August 7.

Along the walls of the trail were swastikas and the words “white power” spray-painted in red. The number “1488” also appeared under the “white power” scrawl, which Stop Antisemitism noted is a neo-Nazi code. The “14” is a reference to the white supremacist slogan “We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children” and the “88” is short for “He*l Hitler,” as “H is the eighth letter of the alphabet,” Stop Antisemitism tweeted, referring to the graffiti as “atrocious.” Police told Patch that an investigation is ongoing.

Atrocious white supremacist references & swastikas were found spray painted onto a bike trail in Bethesda, MD.

What is '1488'?

14 words – "We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children"

88 – H is the 8th letter of the alphabet … "He*l Hitler" https://t.co/w1vNdh6o8z pic.twitter.com/i4adegKmsW

— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) August 8, 2022

Local politicians condemned the graffiti. Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich said in a statement that he is “saddened, upset, and, quite frankly, disgusted over the racist vandalism” at the trail. “As we have in the past, we will organize, unite, and fight back against xenophobic behavior,” he added. “The Montgomery County government will be working with the impacted community and organizations. We will continue to support all efforts, to bring peace, inclusion, and respect to all of our ethnic, racial, and faith communities in wake of this attempt to spread hate in our County.”

 Maryland State Delegate Ariana Kelly tweeted in all capital letters: “HATE HAS NO PLACE IN OUR COMMUNITY.”

HATE HAS NO PLACE IN OUR COMMUNITY. I have heard from a number of constituents this AM about white nationalist vandalism along the Bethesda Trolley Trail. I’m sharing a modified image below. Police are involved. pic.twitter.com/rbPmSOrSkX

— Ariana Kelly (@DelArianaKelly) August 7, 2022

Jewish groups also denounced the graffiti. “We are deeply disturbed to learn about this antisemitic graffiti that was discovered at Bethesda Trolley Trail,” Anti-Defamation League Washington D.C. tweeted. “There is no place for this hateful antisemitic and white supremacist vandalism in Maryland or anywhere else.”

We are deeply disturbed to learn about this antisemitic graffiti that was discovered at Bethesda Trolley Trail. There is no place for this hateful antisemitic and white supremacist vandalism in Maryland or anywhere else. https://t.co/F40BatTKSo

— ADL Washington DC (@ADL_WashDC) August 8, 2022

Associate Dean and Director of Global Social Action Agenda at the Simon Wiesenthal Center Rabbi Abraham Cooper also said in a statement: “The stain of blatant Jew-hatred from social media to vile graffiti to the streets of our communities continues unabated. We urge law enforcement to redouble their vigilance and urge our neighbors in demanding action from our elected officials to prioritize fight against anti-Semitism and bigotry.”

B’nai Brith International tweeted: “This act of vandalism is part of a larger, alarming trend in anti-Jewish hate crimes across the U.S. & again shows why tackling #antisemitism through education is key.”

We are appalled by anti-Semitic graffiti found along the Bethesda Trolley Trail in MD.

This act of vandalism is part of a larger, alarming trend in anti-Jewish hate crimes across the U.S. & again shows why tackling #antisemitism through education is key. https://t.co/PwnqVIa7JU

— B'nai B'rith Intl. (@BnaiBrith) August 8, 2022