← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · Texas Dissident
Thread ID: 16922 | Posts: 9 | Started: 2005-02-24
2005-02-24 00:06 | User Profile
[url=http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/printstory.mpl/front/3054025]Rash of anti-Semitic vandalism and threats seen across Houston area[/url]
By PEGGY O'HARE Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
A spike in anti-Semitic hate crimes and vandalism across Houston in recent months has alarmed police and set the Jewish community on edge, investigators and activists said today.
Since September, 14 such crimes have been reported in the Houston and Harris County area. Eight occurred in a three-week period in December, said Martin Cominsky, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League. The last known incident occurred Dec. 30.
Police say they have never seen this many anti-Semitic crimes reported in such a short period of time. What's more, they have no idea who's doing it -- or if these "personal" attacks, as investigators describe them, are even related.
"We have no suspect information right now. We don't have any information," said Houston Police Department Investigator Catherine Richards. "No witnesses, no videotaping of any type. No one has come forward."
Most of the crimes involve vandalism at public places, houses of worship and a Jewish community center. But there have also been threatening messages left on answering machines at synagogues in Houston and the Woodlands.
Police are concerned the crimes could eventually escalate to violent acts if the perpetrators aren't stopped.
"This has put fear in people's minds ... This is very personal now," Richards said.
Police discussed the disturbing trend today while showing photographs of the vandalism. They announced a Crime Stoppers reward of up to $5,000 for any information leading to an arrest and charges.
In some cases, the words "Juden Raus" -- meaning "Jews Out" -- were painted on sidewalks and benches in southwest Houston. The slogan was the title of an infamous board game in Germany during the 1930s that capitalized on the Nazi era, but sold poorly.
Swastikas also were painted on eight of the large red domes decorating overpasses along the Southwest Freeway, and obscenities aimed at Jewish people were painted on a wall at a Montrose restaurant. Swastikas and slogans such as "Jews Die" were scratched into the doors of Congregation Brith Shalom in Bellaire and Congregation Emanu El.
Sometimes the vandals went to considerable effort. Swastikas were etched into window panes at the Houston Hillel student center and the Houston Congregation for Reform Judaism, actually eating through part of the glass in the former case.
Seven of the nine incidents that happened inside Houston's city limits have already been classified as hate crimes, police say. The other two incidents are still being reviewed.
As public as such attacks may be, they are difficult to solve, Cominsky said.
"We want to do what we can to find these individuals," he said. "We don't have a record of so many incidents occurring in such a short period of time."
Anyone with information may anonymously contact Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
[IMG]http://images.chron.com/content/news/photos/05/02/23/vandal/1.jpg[/IMG]
2005-02-24 00:23 | User Profile
Been a busy bee lately, Tex? :lol: Just kidding.
Seriously, though: Anything like that diminishes Jewish arrogance a little bit and lets Jews know that some people are aware of their agenda can only be a good thing.
Of course, since these are not only thought crimes, but thought crimes against the sacred Jews, more investigative effort will probably be put into finding the perpetrators of these acts of simple vandalism than into solving many rapes and murders.
2005-02-24 00:24 | User Profile
Why should the Swastika be a anti-Jewish message? to me it only means that some likes the Nazi party and that's all.
As for the rest? the Jews are getting ready to take Houston to court in order to get money from the city, as far as I am concern the Jews themselves were the ones to do it.
2005-02-24 00:34 | User Profile
[QUOTE=Angler]Of course, since these are not only thought crimes, but thought crimes against the sacred Jews, more investigative effort will probably be put into finding the perpetrators of these acts of simple vandalism than into solving many rapes and murders.[/QUOTE]
What would make it poetic would be if it turns out these horrendous hate crimes were the acts of illegal Mexican nationals. They do love spray-painting after all.
2005-02-24 01:10 | User Profile
[QUOTE=Angler]Seriously, though: Anything like that diminishes Jewish arrogance a little bit and lets Jews know that some people are aware of their agenda can only be a good thing. [/QUOTE]
ESPECIALLY when it turns out that the Jews themselves are doing the vandalism!
:D
2005-02-24 03:03 | User Profile
This is the kind of storty that the media screams about, until it turns out to be a hoax and the media falls silent.
2005-02-24 20:43 | User Profile
[QUOTE]Swastikas and slogans such as "Jews Die" were scratched into the doors of Congregation Brith Shalom in Bellaire and Congregation Emanu El. [/QUOTE] Not very plausible. Synagogues aren't like church buildings; you generally can't just casually walk up to (or into) them.
2005-02-25 02:51 | User Profile
It looks like Jews are at it again.
No surprise here.
2005-02-27 00:29 | User Profile
When you make legitimate criticism of Judaism unwise, then people resort to acts of vandalism. Simple answer for this: debunk anti-judaism "anti-Semitism" taboo.