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Pensacola Police and the FBI are investigating the sixth reported case of antisemitic vandalism in the Florida Panhandle city in two weeks, it was reported on Tuesday.
In the latest incident, multiple Nazi swastikas were found spray-painted in red on a building on South Palafox Street on Sunday.
Watch a WEAR News report on the spate of antisemitic incidents in Pensacola here:
Pensacola Police Chief Eric Randall said, “My message to the person or persons involved is we’re going to find you. This is very serious. You put people in fear for the actions you’re taking to try and promote some vision or ideology you have.”
A number of tips have reportedly been submitted to police, but there are no known suspects yet and it is unclear if all the recent incidents are connected.
Pensacola Mayor DC Reeves commented, “I don’t think a person or persons who did this deserve the dignity or the attention they’re craving. But I have full confidence our police will get to the bottom of it and perhaps they’ll get the attention they want then.”
The previous incidents before Sunday included the throwing of bricks through windows at Chabad of Pensacola on July and Temple Beth El of Pensacola this past Friday, as well as more graffiti acts involving Nazi swastikas and other hate symbols and messages.
The brick hurled at the Chabad center had Nazi swastikas, as well as the words “No Jews” and “WLM” (standing for “White Lives Matter”), drawn on it, and the two bricks discovered at Temple Beth El of Pensacola also had antisemitic language written on them.
Rabbi Mendel Danow of Chabad of Pensacola told WEAR News, “This is my town. This is where I live. To have such things, whether it’s at a park, a local business, or wherever it might be, is very concerning and unnerving. But at the same time, we’re here to stay, and nothing is going to deter that.”
“We are just going to grow stronger from this, and unite, and at the end of the day, shower them and the city with so much kindness, they won’t know what to do with themselves,” he added.
Temple Beth El of Pensacola stated on Friday, “Earlier today, an act of vandalism was committed against Temple Beth El, the oldest Jewish congregation in the State of Florida. We are working closely with law enforcement to help ensure the safety of our community. Temple Beth El appreciates the support and concern of the greater Pensacola community. We are committed to working with our neighbors of all faiths and backgrounds to build an ever more tolerant and welcoming community.”
