Once again, a Jewish cemetery has been vandalized in the United States — this one in Rochester, New York.

At least five headstones were knocked over at Waad Hakolel Cemetery, which is also known as Stone Road Cemetery, but the cemetery is reluctant to call it a hate crime.

“I don’t want to label it a hate crime,” said Michael Phillips, president of the Britton Road Association, the nonprofit corporation that oversees the cemetery and another in Greece, the Britton Road Cemetery. “I don’t think there’s any proof of that. I don’t want to label it anti-Semitism. I don’t think there’s any proof of that.”

Jewish cemeteries in Philadelphia and University City, Mo., were vandalized within the last two weeks. In Philadelphia, more than 100 headstones were damaged. At the Missouri cemetery, 154 tombstones were toppled.

NY Governor Cuomo released the following statement:

”In recent weeks and months, the family of New York – people of all creeds, colors and backgrounds – have witnessed a dramatic increase in acts of hate and intolerance. The State Police Hate Crimes Task Force, in partnership with federal and local authorities, have launched aggressive investigations into reported hate crimes across the state.

“A number of headstones were recently vandalized and toppled over at Waad Hakolel Cemetery in Rochester. Given the wave of bomb threats targeting Jewish community centers and disturbing vandalism at Jewish cemeteries nationwide, I am directing the State Police to immediately launch a full investigation into this matter.

“New York has zero tolerance for bias or discrimination of any kind, and we will always stand united in the face of anti-Semitism and divisiveness. It is repugnant to everything we believe as New Yorkers, and we will continue to do everything in our power to bring to justice those responsible for these cowardly attacks on the values we hold dear.”

(Source: Breaking911.com)