A Melbourne father has been left horrified to discover his local park was vandalized with anti-Semitic messages painted on the grass.
The Jewish father, who spoke on condition of anonymity, was taking his one-year-old daughter to Mill Park, in Melbourne’s north-west, when he received a disturbing message.
It is understood that someone either burned or slashed the message “Zionism = Nazi” into the grass at the popular children’s park.
“To be honest, I’m still shocked by the massacre in Israel,” the Israeli-born father said.
“I was thinking about how kids my daughter’s age were being killed a year ago, but I was trying to enjoy quality time with my daughter… when suddenly I saw her on this hate speech. Saw running here and there.”
Anti-Defamation Commission Chairman Dvir Abramovich said anti-Semitic graffiti was “not normal”.
“The monster of anti-Semitism has once again raised its head and attacked the guts of every Australian Jew,” Dr Abramovich said.
“What should have been a joyous family outing turned into a nightmare.
“While taking my one-year-old daughter to kick a ball for the first time, that precious milestone was broken.
“In one fell swoop, the poison of anti-Semitism had defiled a place meant for children and families and this stomach-churning act of evil is a disturbing reminder that even a simple day in the park can be poisoned by bigotry .
“Spreading this kind of poison in a children’s playground is a new level of cowardice and cruelty.”
Dr Abramovich said it was important that public spaces be protected from hateful acts.
He said, “Every Jewish Australian deserves to raise their children in safety, free from the specter of hate that this graffiti represents.”
“This latest incident is a flagrant violation of each family’s right to peace, a sickening distortion of history, and an attack on the collective memory of genocide survivors.
“Jewish Australians should not wonder whether a day in the park will turn into a confrontation with prejudice.
“Public spaces should be sanctuaries of joy and safety, not platforms for the ugliest expressions of hate.”
The City of Whittlesey Council has been contacted.
(Tags to translate) US news (T) antisemitism (T) Australia (T) vandalism
