The top stories on CBS4.com
Nov 9, 2009 7:43 pm US/Eastern
Hate-Filled Messages On Walls Of Jewish Comm. Ctr.
CORAL SPRINGS (CBS4) ―
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One of several messages of hate spray painted on the walls of the children's playground at the Soref JCC in Coral Springs on Monday, Nov. 9th, 2009.
CBS
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One of several messages of hate spray painted on the walls of the children's playground at the Soref JCC in Coral Springs on Monday, Nov. 9th, 2009.
CBS
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One of several messages of hate spray painted on the walls of the children's playground at the Soref JCC in Coral Springs on Monday, Nov. 9th, 2009.
CBS
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One of several swastikas spray painted on the walls of a children's playground at the Soref JCC in Coral Springs on Monday, Nov. 9th, 2009.
CBS
A Coral Springs Jewish community center became the target of vandals who used graffiti to spread messages of hate over the weekend.
When employees of the Soref Jewish Community Center, located at 5601 Coral Ridge Drive, arrived to work Monday morning, they spotted the hate-filled messages scrawled on the walls.
As if the swastikas spray painted all over the place weren't offensive enough, whoever did this spelled out several threats. One read "your worst nightmare", another read "you r 2 die", also "jews shall die", and finally "I hate you."
"It's almost too emotional. I can't believe that in our own back yard, in our community this is taking place in 2009. It's just incredible," said Donald Graw, Executive Director of the Soref JCC.
What makes it even worse: those ugly, hateful messages were spray painted in the middle of a children's playground. Coral Springs police are investigating.
"We're not aware of any other instance in our community, or any other surrounding community, this weekend where such an act of vandalism is concerned. We take this very seriously," said Coral Springs Police Chief Duncan Foster.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) issued a statement Monday afternoon, which deplored the anti-Semitic graffiti. They are also offering a $1,000 reward to anyone who provides information that leads to an arrest. In addition, the Coral Springs Police Department is pitching in with an additional $500 reward for a tip that leads to an arrest.
"Whenever anti-Semitism and messages of hate appear, it is critical for the community to unite and condemn such hatred," stated Andrew Rosenkranz, ADL Florida Regional Director. "Today begins the 71st anniversary of 'Kristallnacht,' the night of broken glass when Jewish property and windows were shattered in Germany signifying the beginning of the Nazis' public persecution of German Jews. It is disheartening to think that several decades later, Jewish community centers are still being targeted."
If you know anything about this crime, please call Broward Crime Stoppers at
(954) 493-TIPS.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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