Vandals Spray Anti-Semitic Graffiti On Synagogue, Garages
CHICAGO (CBS) -- City crews were removing anti-Semitic graffiti from several garages and a small synagogue on the Far North Side on Monday.
Residents in the West Rogers Park neighborhood found the graffiti on Sunday. Messages included "F*** Yall Jews," and "F*** U" followed by the Star of David.
Monica Danielzadeh, who lives across the alley from a small synagogue in the 2900 block of West Touhy Avenue said she was stunned at seeing anti-Semitic graffiti sprayed on the synagogue.
"They're good people. It's just sad," she said. "I was in shock. I couldn't believe that someone would actually go ahead and do that. That's terrible. I just want to cry. I'm not even Jewish, and I want to cry for them."
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Leah Emmer happened upon the alley where more anti-Semitic graffiti was spray-painted on garages in alleys behind the 5700 block of North Talman Avenue and the 2800 block of West Fitch Avenue and the 2800 block of West Estes Avenue.
"Oh my God, it's horrible. In West Rogers Park, unbelievable. I'm not even from here. I grew up here, and I'm living in Milwaukee right now," she said. "Shocking. This was a very friendly Jewish neighborhood. We had non-Jewish neighbors when we grew up as kids, and they were friendly, and respectful, and we played with them down on the streets. This is horrendous."
One man who came out of a morning prayer service at the synagogue said he's heard from some people who'd rather say nothing about the graffiti, for fear of encouraging more vandalism.
David Stark, who grew up in the neighborhood but now lives in Israel, calls the graffiti a wake-up call.
"It's a part and parcel of a rising tide of anti-Semitism. It's here, it's on college campuses. It can't be ignored," he tells CBS 2's Derrick Blakley.
The Jewish United Fund called the vandalism attack on all Chicagoans.
Some neighbors believe the offender must be from West Rogers Park to have known which homes are occupied by Jews.
Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy said investigators have some leads in the case, but no arrests have been made.
