Swastikas scrawled on Nowra graves
Swastikas were drawn onto the backs of nine headstones in the Nowra War Cemetery, local media reported.
SWASTIKAS were drawn onto the backs of nine headstones in the Nowra War Cemetery, local media reported.
More symbols were drawn on a gateway pillar leading into the Naval Cemetery, along with the words “Die Jues” (sic).
NSW Labor frontbencher and NSW Parliamentary Friends of Israel Deputy chair Walt Secord described the desecration of the graves as “sickening”, and an “affront to those who survived the Shoah and the brave Australians who fought fascism during World War II”.
“This attack seems to have been carried out by more than simple vandals and was a clearly calculated racially-motivated hate crime aimed to cause maximum offence,” Secord said.
Earlier this month, 15 swastikas drawn in permanent black marker on Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach.
“I am appalled by these sickening attacks and they have no place in our society,” Secord added.
“Those who carried out the attack are gutless cowards.
“We must be vigilant and speak out against these sorts of sickening attacks.”
NSW Jewish Board of Deputies CEO Vic Alhadeff condemned the graffiti as “offensive to all Australians, particularly those who fought the Nazis, those who survived the Holocaust and members of the Jewish community”.
“It is very concerning that there is a handful of bigots out there who feel the need to engage in such despicable conduct,” Alhadeff told The AJN.
The vandalism has been reported to police.
EVAN ZLATKIS
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