Swastikas stuck on Beth Weizmann’s windows
Two men have been arrested after stickers with Nazi swastikas were stuck to the front of the Beth Weizmann Community Centre in Melbourne’s Caulfield South.
The stickers were also found in surrounding streets on Thursday.
Beth Weizmann Community Centre is a Jewish community hub that hosts the offices of a number of Jewish community organisations.
The men were allegedly vandalising the building at the same time as Israeli Ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon was in the building.
“I was inside the Beth Weizmann community centre hosting the Israeli Ambassador for a community meeting while this incident took place,” Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) President Daniel Aghion said. “Thanks to the strong security measures in place and the quick response of security teams, our work was able to continue uninterrupted.”
“This incident underscores the importance of remaining vigilant against those who seek to spread hatred.
“It emphasises the importance of Wednesday’s announcement by Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes that the Government will legislate to ban the public display of the Nazi swastika.
“While this law is not yet in force, once it is, these perpetrators could face a year in prison for similar actions. This send a clear message to neo-Nazis that they are not welcome in our community.”
The vandalism was reported to CSG Victoria while it was happening and CSG responders worked with police to find the alleged perpetrators.
CSG urges community members to report any incidents of concern first to police and then to CSG to ensure swift action can be taken.
Speaking to the Herald Sun, local police commander Inspector Catherine Wilkins said “The public display of anti-Semitic emblems or slogans does nothing but open deep-seated wounds among not only the Jewish community, but the community at large with the effects lasting far beyond the removal of such symbols.”
