Montgomery County Police Chief Marc Yamada called the recent acts of antisemitism and anti-Israel vandalism at multiple Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and places of worship “unacceptable.”
His department “is taking every investigative step possible to close these cases by arrest,” he said in a statement.
Recently, Bethesda Elementary School was spray painted with anti-Israel graffiti as the Sunday Bethesda Farmers Market held there was beginning. Then four schools were defaced with antisemitic, anti-Israel and anti-LGBTQ+ graffiti.
Also, Congregation Beth El of Montgomery County on Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda was targeted twice within a few days.
Yamada said these acts are not just crimes, “they are hateful actions that seek to divide our community and instill fear in our residents.”
In a statement, Yamada wrote, “Let me be clear: every person, faith, culture and religion has the right to feel safe and respected in Montgomery County. These acts of bias and hate will not be tolerated.”
The police department is conducting thorough investigations in attempts to identify and arrest all who are responsible. The police also intend to partner with the States Attorney’s Office to prosecute these cases to the fullest extent possible, he wrote.
Yamada urged anyone with information to speak with police.
“Together, we will ensure that Montgomery County remains a place where all our residents can live without fear, in peace and with mutual respect for one another,” Yamada said.
The Maryland Jewish Alliance (MJA) called on the Montgomery County Council to issue a formal statement of condemnation. Councilmembers need to “take a strong and unequivocal stand against these acts of hate,” MJA wrote in a news release.
The county council and County Executive Marc Elrich have spoken out in the past against incidents of hate bias, repeating over and over that hate has no place in Montgomery County.
In its news release, MJA wrote, “The Holocaust did not begin with the gas chambers; it began with name-calling, taunting, and bullying. The events of the past few days serve as a disturbing reminder of the lead-up to Kristallnacht. We must ask ourselves: Is this a preview of what the new school year will bring?”
MJA, a grassroots organization that advocates for the safety, security and well-being of the Jewish community in Maryland, “stands ready to work with local authorities and community leaders to ensure that our neighborhoods remain safe and inclusive for all,” the group stated.
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