A Jewish cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio, was vandalized with anti-Semitic graffiti, amid rising anti-Jewish actions following the October 7 invasion of Israel by Hamas-led terrorists.
FOX 8 in Cleveland reported that several headstones at Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery on Ridge Road were spray-painted with red swastikas.
The swastika was seen as the war between Israel and Hamas entered its fifth week.
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The Jewish Federation of Cleveland posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that it was “absolutely disgusting” that anyone would hate Jewish people so much that they would desecrate a cemetery.
“This cowardly act of violating the memory of our elders only confirms what we already know: hatred of the Jewish community here, and around the world, has now reached a level not seen in generations,” the union posted in a series of tweets. . “We will support law enforcement in any way we can to ensure those responsible face consequences for their actions.”
The act is another display of anti-Semitic hatred toward American Jews, which is on the rise.
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Several headstones at Chesed Shil Emeth Cemetery on Ridge Road were painted with red swastikas on November 11, 2023. (Fox 8 Cleveland)
Caroline Normandin, the Michigan regional director for the Anti-Defamation League, told Fox News Digital about the situation on the ground in neighboring Ohio, saying they usually have two or three incidents a week, but between October 7 and October 21, they were not aware of the situation. ,they obtained 61 incidents.
Nationally, the Anti-Defamation League reported a 388% rise in anti-Semitic incidents during the same period last year.
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Several headstones at Chesed Shil Emeth Cemetery on Ridge Road were painted with red swastikas on November 11, 2023. (Fox 8 Cleveland)
As is the case across the country, most of the incidents reported in Michigan concerned rallies in which demonstrators chanted inflammatory calls for violence, “Celebrating[ed] Killing civilians” or “question[ed] That Hamas [carried out] attacks.”
Rep. Shontel Brown, D-Ohio, turned to social media after learning about the vandalized headstones.
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“I am saddened and angry at the desecration of a Jewish cemetery in Brooklyn,” she wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “I am sending my thoughts to the local Jewish community – we are with you.
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She added: “It is clear that anti-Semitism is on the rise, and we must speak out about it.” “Antisemitism and all forms of hatred have no place in Northeast Ohio, or anywhere else.”
Fox News Digital’s Beth Bailey contributed to this report.
