Police are investigating after swastikas were spray-painted overnight on two synagogues and outside private homes in the Seward Park neighborhood.
Officers said swastikas were found on a synagogue in the 6500 block of 52nd Avenue South and another in the 5100 block of South Morgan Street.
A swastika also was painted on the driveway of one synagogue and on the sidewalk in front of private homes in the area.
They were painted sometime after Selichos on Motzei Shabbos, and found by people arriving on Sunday morning for Shacharis.
A police spokesperson said that defacing of property with swastikas is considered malicious harassment. An investigation is under way, and all information is being forwarded to department’s bias crimes detective.
The Seattle police is treating the crime “very seriously,” the department said in a statement. No suspects have been arrested at this point.
The swastikas are being removed by property owners. Those painted on public property are being removed by the Seattle Department of Transportation.
Additionally, YWN has learned that the Mayor has ordered police protection to be placed at both Shuls.
(Source: KOMO-TV / Eli Gefen – YWN)
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2 Responses
Seems there is a different, stronger term used for the situation that someone sends a black person a picture of a noose in the mail. This is despite the fact that a noose serves law enforcement purposes but a swastika is only the symbol of nazi genocide.
Why is this only considered malicious harassment?
Calm down Chavrusa O Mesusa (# 1) – You are looking for an race/antisemitic issue where none exists.
“Malicious harrassment” appears to be nothing more than the technical legal name for such an offense under relevant Washington criminal statutes – and it would be the same if the victims were any other group.