Anti-Jewish graffiti painted on Rock Hill parking deck near Fountain Park, police say
Rock Hill police are investigating after anti-Jewish graffiti was found painted on a downtown parking deck, according to police reports.
A Rock Hill Police Department officer doing a property check Tuesday on Elizabeth Lane across Main Street from Fountain Park found the anti-Semitic graffiti among other vandalism on the top level of the deck, a police incident report showed.
Police found the anti-Jewish words and other vulgar words, designs, and symbols had been spray painted on the deck, the report stated.
The parking deck is owned and maintained by the city, Rock Hill police Lt. Michael Chavis said. The city will sandblast and clean the deck, Chavis said.
The incident seems to be an isolated act of vandalism, Chavis said. The police department has not had any other recent similar incidents or reports of people or groups being targeted for their religion, Chavis said.
Anti-Semitism a national problem
The U.S. State Department defines anti-Semitism as “A certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”
Anti-Semitic graffiti and signs have been reported in several areas of the country in recent weeks.
In the past month, anti-Jewish graffiti and vandalism has been found in California, Texas, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, and Connecticut, according to the Anti-Defamation League and media and police reports.
Anti-Semitic graffiti has been reported near Miami, Atlanta, Boise, Idaho, and in Kentucky, according to reports from the McClatchy news company.
This story was originally published November 3, 2021 at 5:26 PM.
