Australia
Anti-vaxxers mock infamous Nazi slogan
When: 21 October
Where: Melbourne, Australia
What: Anti-vax graffiti comparing Australia’s COVID-19 vaccination policy to Nazi death camps was smeared on a Melbourne Street. The graffiti read “Vax Macht Frei,” a play on the infamous motto “Arbeit Macht Frei,” which was on the gates of the Auschwitz and Dachau concentration camps. Click here to read more.
An Israeli gelato chain was targeted with graffiti crossing out the word Israel with spray-paint. In a similar incident, the words “9/11 Jews did it” were smeared on a hospital in Sydney Darlinghurst.
A Nazi flag was flown near a Brisbane synagogue. Authorities confirmed they seized the flag from the nearby apartment.
“That flag and that symbol, the Nazi swastika symbol, represents one of the most evil moments in human history,” Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies Vice President Jason Steinberg said. “For that to appear in 2021 in Brisbane over a synagogue is just atrocious.”
Canada
Hospital removes senior leader after Nazi imagery discovered on his social media
When: October
Where: Ontario, Canada
What: An Ontario hospital removed a senior official from a leadership council after Nazi images were discovered on his social media page. The images featured swastikas and a bronze sculpture of Adolf Hitler, among other offensive content.
"The individual mentioned in your request is not an employee of TBRHSC and is no longer serving in a voluntary role on the patient and family advisory council," spokesperson Marcello Bernardo said in an emailed statement Tuesday morning. Click here to read more.
Germany
German broadcaster hires writer accused of antisemitism
When: October
Where: Germany
What: A major German public television broadcaster hired a woman accused of making antisemitic statements. Among other such remarks, the women posted on social media a cartoon of Jews with hooked noses. In addition, she participated in an event of the Hamas-affiliated German Youth for Palestine, where she spoke in favor of violence against Israel and called for an end to the Jewish state.
Antisemitism commissioner Felix Klein said that while “private antisemitic statements” are “covered by freedom of expression if they are not criminally relevant..., care must be taken not to place people who have attracted attention in positions that they could use to spread Jew-hatred. Germany has a historic responsibility on the issue.”
“Public broadcasters should therefore always carefully examine who they are giving the floor to,” he added. Click here to read more.
An ex-Israeli soldier who was wearing a pullover with the Israel Defense Forces logo was assaulted outside a train station in Berlin by unknown assailants. According to police, who have opened an investigation into the incident on suspicion of "politically motivated bodily harm,” the victim was approached by an individual who asked about his faith. The attacker proceeded to “spray irritant in his face and pushed him to the ground," police said.
Italy
Mayoral candidate in Rome apologizes for Holocaust comments decried as antisemitic
When: October
Where: Rome, Italy
What: A leading candidate for mayor in Rome apologized to Italy’s Jewish community over an article he wrote last year suggesting that victims of mass murders other than the Holocaust gain less attention because they “didn’t own banks.”
“Each year, 40 Holocaust-related movies are shot, trips and cultural initiatives of all sorts are financed to commemorate that horrible persecution, and up to here, I have nothing to say,” Michetti wrote. “But I wonder, why the same pity and the same consideration are not given to the dead killed in the foibe massacres [of Italians by Yugoslav Partisans], in the refugee camps, and in the mass murders that still take place in the world?”
Jewish leaders were quick to condemn Michetti’s article.
“The thought that our city institutions may be led by people whose thinking is imbued with prejudice makes us tremble,” said Union of Italian Jewish Communities (UCEI) President and WJC Vice President Noemi Di Segni.
Ruth Durughello, the president of the Jewish community of Rome, tweeted a condemnation of the mayoral candidate’s words: “When we ask to remember the Shoah, we don’t do it for us Jews, we do it because the Shoah is the paradigm of evil, and evil must be fought without any sort of ambiguity.”
“Michetti’s words,” Durughello continued, “are dangerous and hide a disturbing prejudice.” Click here to read more.
Protesters in the northern city of Novara dressed in grey –and-white-striped vests, a reference to the uniforms worn by prisoners of Nazi concentration camps. According to the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, the demonstrators carried signs that read, "We are like prisoners of Auschwitz" and "Stop dictatorship."
"In the face of ravings like this, one cannot invoke the freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution," Di Segni said. "We have witnessed abuse and an offense to memory."
Poland
Antisemitic graffiti found at Auschwitz-Birkenau
When: 5 October
Where: Oświęcim, Poland
What: Antisemitic graffiti was smeared on nine wooden barracks at the Nazi death camp of Auschwitz.
The museum said in a statement that this was "an outrageous attack on the symbol of one of the greatest tragedies in human history and an extremely painful blow to the memory of all the victims of the German Nazi Auschwitz-Birkenau camp."
The graffiti included "two references to the Old Testament, often used by antisemites and denial slogans," the museum added.
Authorities are investigating the incident. Click here to read more.
Slovenia
Slovenian PM accuses members of European Parliament of being “puppets” to George Soros
When: 14 October
Where: Slovenia
What: Slovenian Prime minister Janez Janša posted a message on social media accusing several members of the European Parliament of being “puppets” of George Soros.
“Social media should be a space for constructive and respectful debate,” said European Commission Spokesperson for Rule of Law Christian Wigand. “It should not be a place for personal attacks against individuals, be [they] private or public figures, as was the case with the tweet you mention.”
Wigand added that antisemitism is not “only a threat to Jewish communities but also to an open and diverse society.” Click here to read more.
Sweden
‘Holocaust was a scam’ projected on Swedish synagogue during Malmö Conference
When: 14 October
Where: Malmö, Sweden
What: Authorities are investigating how the words “the Holocaust was a scam” were projected onto the main synagogue in Malmö while that city was holding the Malmö International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism. According to the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter, the Nordic Resistance Movement, a neo-Nazi group, claimed responsibility for the incident. Click here to read more.
United Kingdom
Teen arrested after synagogue defaced with swastikas
When: 30 October
Where: London, United Kingdom
What: A teenager was arrested after walls near a synagogue in Camden were defaced with swastikas.
The Board of Deputies added: “Tonight we’ve worked with local Jewish communities, @CST_UK @JewishLondon & @CamdenCouncil to coordinate actions by police & Camden in response to this antisemitic graffiti. We welcome swift action by all concerned, including an arrest & start of cleanup.”
Cllr Abdul Hai and Phil Rosenberg, Co-Chairs of the Camden Faith Leaders’ Forum, said: “As Co-Chairs of the Camden Faith Leaders’ Forum, we were made aware of swastikas graffiti around Belsize Park on Saturday night. We immediately started working with the local Jewish community and Camden Cabinet Members who saw to a quick response, which led to an arrest and rapid cleanup operation. We pay tribute to all involved. As faith communities we stand together against all bigotry in our borough.” Click here to learn more.
An online service held by a Manchester synagogue was disrupted by people displaying swastikas and shouting racist abuse. The incident occurred about halfway through the service when the zoom bombers shouted and displayed swastikas and other racist images on their screen.
Rabbi Robyn Ashworth-Steenof Manchester Reform Synagogue said the offenders showed "awful racist images."
"We were all really shaken and upset about it," she added.
According to Liberty Investigates, reported hate crime doubled in five years but the total number of cases resolved has dropped.
United States
George Washington University fraternity house vandalized, Torah damaged
When: 31 October
Where: Washington D.C., United States
What: A George Washington University fraternity chapter saw its on-campus house vandalized, with damage to a Torah scroll, officials said.
According to an Instagram post by Tau Kappa Epsilon’s GWU chapter, its house was “broken into, vandalized, and Jewish texts were desecrated. Our entire chapter is outraged and saddened by this blatant act of antisemitism and violence against our brothers.”
“I am appalled by the antisemitic vandalism that occurred at the TKE fraternity house, especially the desecration of the Torah scroll,” President Thomas LeBlanc said. “This is a deeply disturbing incident, and our GW Police Department is working with the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department to find the perpetrators.”
He added: “I want to be clear: I condemn all such acts of antisemitism and all forms of hatred, discrimination, and bias in our community. Any act of antisemitism is an attack on the entire GW community and cannot, and will not, be tolerated.” Click here to read more.
An Albany Jewish community center was evacuated following an emailed bomb threat letter.
“I think it’s a sad day in this country when we see the level of hate and vitriol and racism that exists, and we saw that today at the JCC,” Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said to reporters. “It was a threat that was unacceptable...from the standpoint of this community, of how diverse and open our community is, how richly we benefit from places like the JCC and the diversity that exists in our community.”
Two intoxicated men attacked a Jewish man outside a club in Brooklyn, New York while shouting anti-Jewish epithets. According to the New York Daily News, the two men appeared to be drunk, and screamed “F***ing Jews! Jews shouldn’t exist!” during the attack.
Posters with images of Hitler were plastered on the large white menorah outside the house of worship. The incident is being investigated.
“It said something to the effect of ‘Hitler was right,’” said Sacramento County Sheriff’s Sgt. Rod Grassmann, referring to the message on the flyers. “This is being investigated as a hate crime,” he said. “This is a place where people should feel safe. When they go in their place of worship, everyone should feel safe.”
