County Executive Marc Elrich and Police Chief Marcus Jones urged all residents to report acts of hate vandalism so that they could be investigated and documented.
On Saturday, someone spray painted he words “Jews Not Welcome” on the sign in front of Walt Whitman High School. In recent months, vandals painted antisemitic graffiti at the Capital Crescent Trail in Bethesda, the Scotland AME Zion Church was vandalized and members of the Proud Boys protested at several drag queen story hours. The Asian community also has been targeted.
“We have an obligation to tell people this behavior is not acceptable here,” Elrich said. People need to be “understanding and inclusive.”
Jones emphasized that the police investigate all hate crimes. “We are following up on leads” and tips, Jones said, adding, “We’ve had no success at this point.”
Sue Stolov, who is a member of the county’s Committee Against Hatred and Violence, said that there have been at least 10 incidents in Montgomery County so far this year and probably more that weren’t reported.
She noted that residents are showing up at the Whitman High School sign nightly during Chanukah to light the menorah as a community. Tuesday night, about 75 were there, she said.
