Three incidents of Jew-hatred vandalism in Southern California city on Labor Day weekend

Three antisemitic vandalism incidents occurred in Ventura, California, over Labor Day weekend, targeting Temple Beth Torah, Higher Vision Church, and Juanamaria Park. The vandalism, which took place between Friday afternoon and Sunday morning, included swastikas and hateful messages. At Temple Beth Torah, graffiti read “You will be judged” and “Death to Jews,” while Higher Vision Church was defaced with “Zionist traitors.” Juanamaria Park also had a swastika and the phrase “They want to replace you.”

“This is antisemitism and criminal,”

stated Joshua Burt of the Anti-Defamation League, who is in contact with law enforcement. The Ventura Police Department is investigating these incidents as hate crimes, believing the same individual or group is responsible, and has increased patrols near faith-based events. Ventura Mayor Jeannette Sánchez-Palacios condemned the acts, stating,

“Antisemitism, hate and intimidation have no place in Ventura.”