Hate has no place in Phoenix, Arizona. Around 100 residents of the western American city came together this week to support their neighbors Shoshana and Ari Simones, whose mail box was vandalized with a swastika over the 4th of July holiday. 
According to The Arizona Republic, the Jewish couple initially thought about leaving the hateful graffiti up as a sign of defiance but changed their minds when they "realized we wanted to turn this into a positive experience for the community, but also so we could end things for ourselves on a positive note.”
On Sunday morning, after a cleaning company removed the hateful message, Phoenix residents joined the Simones in painting their pillar mounted mailbox with messages of brotherhood and love, including the phrase “proud Jews.”
"We feel like we held our head high and rose above the initial ugliness that started it all,” Shoshana said. "It had us smiling and engaging with our community and – in case we’d had our faith in humanity shaken by the hate and ignorance directed towards us – this was a way to rise above it and feel good about our community.”
"I definitely smile when I see it. It is a little silly and out there,” she continued.
"We aren’t going to keep it like that forever ... but right now I think it’s nice because when I look at it I think of all the people who came out to show their support instead of being reminded what was put there. I don’t think about it as much anymore. I think about the hugs and smiles we’ve received in the last week."
