Swastikas close to ACT synagogue
A member of the ACT parliament has spoken about the daubing a swastika on a path close to a synagogue in the nation’s capital.
Rabbi Shmueli Feldman Photo: Facebook
Michael Peterson told the parliament: “It is a with a heavy heart I bring attention to the disgusting display of antisemitism and bigotry that was left at a playground in Giralang. Spray paint markings of a swastika were noticed by the local community in May. Most concerning is that the park is located just a few hundred metres from a synagogue. In addition to that, many members of the Jewish community live in the nearby area and use the park.
This sort of graffiti is put there only for one purpose—to intimidate members of our Jewish community.
I want to assure Rabbi Feldman and the Jewish community that this sort of bigotry reflects only a tiny portion of Canberra—small yet still unacceptable. Overwhelmingly Canberrans warmly embrace our Jewish community and appreciate the contribution they make to our city.
Offensive graffiti of this nature should be removed within 24 hours.”
Fellow member of the MLA added: “There is absolutely no place in our community for racial or religious acts of hatred! Rabbi Shmueli and the community of Chabad ACT provide an invaluable service to the ACT, and deserve more respect than what has been shown through these low, and outrageous acts of vandalism.”
He posted on Facebook: ” I don’t think this is racially motivated – probably just a bored teenager that should be caught and taught a lesson – however the police and government not prioritising its removal and leaving it for so long is the disturbing bit.
We are not going to remove it ourselves as we would like to see the police attend the scene first to look at it properly and see if they can identify the tags etc and document it before removal.”
Rabbi Feldman
As far as I have experienced this is NOT the work of a bored TEENAGER. I was in Vienna during Crystal Night and watched from the window across the street
as two old men were scrubbing the footpath with toothbrushes, being urged on
painfully by not so bored TEENAGERS with brown shirts adorned with the Nazi
symbol of hate. We escaped Vienna next day.
Teenagers spray-paint illegible patterns on walls but not usually Swastickers
The swastika should first have dog poop smeared on it in outline, then it should be framed, for all to see and smell what the swastika is.