WESTPORT – The Westport Police Department is investigating two incidents of graffiti depicting swastikas, both discovered on Thursday, Jan. 20.
The symbol was found on the walkway outside The Conservative Synagogue and on the guard shack at the entrance to Compo Beach.
Rabbi Jeremy Wiederhorn notified the Connecticut regional office of the Anti-Defamation League.
“We have no reason to believe that this incident is anything but the result of mischievous behavior,” Wiederhorn told congregants in an email, “but we are nonetheless taking it seriously and taking necessary precautions to ensure the safety of our members and protection of our facility.”
Gary Jones, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League Connecticut Region, however, was concerned that the incident might be more than mischief.
“As with any expression of hatred and bias, we strongly condemn the perpetrator of this act,” he told the Ledger. “This incident is of particular concern to us in light of the fact that the perpetrator specifically targeted a Jewish institution with the symbol used by Nazis, those who sought to destroy the Jewish people – a symbol that has come to reflect the most extreme form of Jew-hatred possible.”
The incidents are being investigated by the Westport Police Detective Bureau, and have been reported as bias crimes to the Connecticut Department of Public Safety, says Westport Police Capt. Sam Arciola. The police are also working with other jurisdictions in the area to determine whether they have discovered similar incidents or viable suspects.
“We take these incidents very seriously,” Arciola says. “What’s disturbing is that someone went to a synagogue to do this. There’s some kind of intent that it was meant to be seen, and I have a problem with this.”
Arciola says that the swastika at Compo Beach appeared to have been painted over by the time police arrived on the scene, though it is not yet clear by whom.
Jones was heartened by the police department’s prompt and serious response.
“We applaud the prompt response and serious reaction of law enforcement and are confident they will take the action necessary to ensure that such bigoted use of such a powerful and provocative symbol is not accepted by the community,” he said.. “In the end, we recognize that acts of hate can occur anywhere. The test of any community is how it responds to bad acts such as this, and we are confident that the Westport community will send a clear message that it stands with the victims of hate and against the perpetrators.