Vandals damage dozens of headstones in Jewish cemetery in Missouri
Source: Guardian
Vandals damage dozens of headstones in Jewish cemetery in Missouri
Attack denounced as act of desecration by state governor and comes amid concern over rise in antisemitism in US
Matthew Weaver
Tuesday 21 February 2017 05.55 EST
Dozens of headstones in a Jewish cemetery in Missouri have been toppled in what the state governor described as an act of desecration amid growing concern about a US-wide rise in antisemitism.
More than 100 headstones at the Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery in St Louis were damaged or knocked in Mondays attack.
Police say they have not ruled out treating the damage as a hate crime. Lt Fredrick Lemons said investigators were looking at surveillance camera footage to help determine who had pushed over the headstones.
The state governor, Eric Greitens, described the attack as a cowardly act of vandalism. In a Facebook post he said: Anyone who would seek to divide us through an act of desecration will find instead that they unite us in shared determination. From their pitiful act of ugliness, we can emerge even more powerful in our faith.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/21/vandals-damage-dozens-of-headstones-in-jewish-cemetery-in-missouri
If I have posted a story with limited local interest, I'm sorry. Thank you.
Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)I believe it already has international significance. Living in the general area, I know and have driven past this old cemetery many times through the years. I would describe it as a a very nice older facility that is apparently well maintained from the glimpses one gets while driving in traffic.
This is a despicable act on the part of whomever did this and I hope that they are caught and face the full weight of justice.
Fritz Walter
(4,291 posts)It is essential that these hate crimes be exposed.
Thanks for sharing this!
colsohlibgal
(5,275 posts)These mentally defective people need to be hunted down and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
Just today in the Columbus Dispatch an article was in there about multiple threats here to the Jewish Community. Orange Creep, Bannon, etc, have emboldened these dumb vermin who don't know any better.