San Francisco Hillel House near SFSU campus vandalized with antisemitic graffiti
An investigation is underway after the San Francisco Hillel House, which serves Jewish college students in the area, was found vandalized with antisemitic graffiti.
According to the center, staffers found the vandalism, along with signs of forced entry, when they arrived on Monday. The center is located on Banbury Street, near the San Francisco State University campus.
"This type of antisemitic vandalism and property damage to our building, the center of Jewish Life for students at nine San Francisco area schools, is deeply upsetting to our campus community," the center said on its Facebook page. "There is no room for hate or antisemitism on any kind on college campuses, or directed toward organizations that serve Jewish students."
Early this morning, there was an attempted break-in and antisemitic vandalism at the SF Hillel building. Thank you to...
Posted by San Francisco Hillel (SF Hillel) on Monday, December 9, 2024
The center also thanked San Francisco police and campus police at SF State for their quick response, along with the support of the school's administration in helping remove the graffiti.
Additional details about the incident were not immediately available.
"Targeting a Hillel House this way is nothing short of antisemitic. This incident is a reminder that our work to counter antisemitism on college campuses is far from over," Marc Levine of the Anti-Defamation League said in a statement.
The incident has also been condemned by local officials.
"Acts of antisemitic vandalism, like the attack on SF Hillel, have no place in San Francisco," Mayor-elect Daniel Lurie said on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday. "We must stand united against hate in all forms and work to ensure every resident feels safe."
"Jewish students continue to be targeted on our campuses," State Sen. Scott Wiener said on X. "Much work remains to ensure Jewish students can get an education w/o being targeted."
On Tuesday afternoon, CBS News Bay Area obtained a statement by the leaders of SF State and other schools served by the Hillel House denouncing the vandalism.
"We emphatically condemn these actions and the defacing of a space which should always serve as a welcoming and unifying resource and gathering space. We stand with our Jewish students as part of our commitment to strengthening an inclusive and diverse environment where every person feels safe and valued," said a joint statement from SF State president Lynn Mahoney, USF president The Rev. Paul Fitzgerald, UC Law chancellor David Faigman and UCSF chancellor Sam Hawgood.
"As an important campus partner, SF Hillel provides community for Jewish students and is an asset for all our campus communities. We are grateful for the strong response to support Hillel and condemn antisemitism and defacing of student spaces," the leaders went on to say.