Authorities in New Hampshire are investigating after swastikas were painted on the storefronts of several businesses and a synagogue in Portsmouth.
The graffiti was discovered on Monday morning and included several large swastikas, along with other anti-Semitic symbols and phrases. The targeted businesses included a Jewish deli, a restaurant, and a coffee shop.
The local police department and the Anti-Defamation League are both investigating the incident and have condemned the hateful and offensive graffiti. Portsmouth Mayor Rick Becksted also released a statement, saying that the city “will not tolerate hate or bigotry in any form.”
The targeted synagogue, Temple Israel, is the only synagogue in the Portsmouth area and has a small but active community. Its rabbi, David Wolfman, called the graffiti “an attack on our community and our values,” but also expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support from the wider community.
This incident is part of a wider trend of rising anti-Semitic incidents across the United States. According to the Anti-Defamation League, there were more than 2,000 reported incidents of anti-Semitic harassment, vandalism, and assault in 2022, an increase of 33% from the previous year.
Jewish leaders in New Hampshire have expressed concern about the rise in anti-Semitic incidents in their state and have called for more education and awareness-raising to combat the problem. They are also calling for more resources for law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute hate crimes.
The use of swastikas and other Nazi symbols is particularly offensive to Jewish people, as it is associated with the atrocities committed by the Nazis during the Holocaust. Jewish groups have urged people to report any incidents of anti-Semitic graffiti or other hate crimes and to stand up against hate and intolerance in all its forms.
The incident in Portsmouth is a reminder that anti-Semitism is still a very real and serious problem in our society and that we must all work together to combat hate and bigotry wherever it rears its head.