As the nation focuses on the travesty that took place in the Senate during the Supreme Court confirmation vote, more evidence of the divisive and hateful rhetoric of the right was reported in Virginia from the Northern Virginia Jewish Community Center.
The offensive graffiti was discovered on Saturday morning and police are investigating.
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), who ran in 2016 as Hillary Clinton vice presidential running mate, tweeted an impassioned response to the incident.
‘An insidious rise in hateful actions and anti-Semitism is happening in Virginia and across the country. We must meet it with fierce condemnation and an over-abundance of love and unity. We cannot allow hate to fester.’
This is the Fairfax Jewish Community Center this morning.
An insidious rise in hateful actions and anti-Semitism is happening in Virginia and across the country. We must meet it with fierce condemnation and an over-abundance of love and unity. We cannot allow hate to fester. pic.twitter.com/85bW2Hl0th
— Tim Kaine (@timkaine) October 6, 2018
On Saturday morning, the state’s attorney general, Mark Herring, also lashed out on Twitter against the disgusting display of anti-seminitism.
‘Way too many politicians in Virginia are way too complacent about the rise of white supremacist violence and anti-Semitism. The threat is real, it’s growing, and we have to take a stand.’
This is the Fairfax Jewish Community Center this morning.
An insidious rise in hateful actions and anti-Semitism is happening in Virginia and across the country. We must meet it with fierce condemnation and an over-abundance of love and unity. We cannot allow hate to fester. pic.twitter.com/85bW2Hl0th
— Tim Kaine (@timkaine) October 6, 2018
Police were unable to discuss the ongoing investigation, but JCC Executive Director Jeff Dannick and the organization’s President David Yaffe said:
‘As many of us recognize, these acts do not represent the community around the J or the community in Northern Virginia. The J as a whole, and particularly through the focused efforts of our Committee for a Just and Caring Community, will continue to participate as a positive force in both the Jewish and wider communities.’
Shocked and terribly saddened…yet again. Woke up to hear the news of more hate-swastikas painted all over the front of the @JCCofNoVA. I am here now. So sad. Our community however, remains strong and united. This hate does NOT represent our Northern VA community! pic.twitter.com/zgPOsdZpTv
— Eileen Filler-Corn (@EFillerCorn) October 6, 2018
Featured image via Flickr by Dave Connor under a Creative Commons license