Vandals Spray Graffiti on Jewish Gravestones, Including Swastikas and “Kanye was rite” (VIDEO)

ILLINOIS (VINnews) — Vandals spray-painted headstones with swastikas in a Jewish cemetery in a Chicago suburb. On one tombstone, a vandal wrote, “Kanye was rite.”

The horrific discovery was made this week at Am Echod Cemetery, where red swastikas were spray-painted on at least 16 tombstones. Police said 23 other headstones were defaced.

“The desecration of graves is as low as it gets, and by the way, it’s also as cowardly as it gets,” said David Goldenberg, regional director of ADL Midwest.

The cemetery is more than 100 years old and holds special meaning to Larry Yellen, whose parents are buried there.

“My father lost at least four aunts in the Holocaust, his family was from Poland. They know more than anyone what a swastika means,” said Yellen, as quoted by a Chicago News channel.

“Let’s be clear, they should illicit a visceral reaction. It is hateful, anti-Semitic and they’re dangerous because they can cause these types of real life acts,” said David Goldenberg, regional director of ADL Midwest.

“In this particular case, it was vandalism, the next one could be assault. People could get hurt,” added Goldenberg.

In a statement, Waukegan Mayor Ann Taylor said, “I am deeply disturbed and angered by the hateful imagery found spray-painted on headstones this morning in Am Echod Jewish Cemetery. Hate does not have a home in Waukegan; when such incidents occur, our marginalized neighbors are victimized, and our entire community suffers. I hope our officers promptly locate the perpetrators of this despicable act and hold them accountable, and I offer my full support to those directly impacted by this vandalism.”

Congressman Brad Schneider released the following statement:

“I am shocked and appalled by the defacement of the Am Echod Jewish Cemetery in Waukegan. This act of hate is truly despicable. I join with other leaders and organizations such as Mayor Ann Taylor and the ADL in condemning this attack. Hate has no home here. Antisemitism must neither be normalized nor accepted. An attack on any community is an attack on all of us, as it diminishes and threatens each of us.”