CAULFIELD GLEN EIRA LEADER
JORDY ATKINSON
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A SWASTIKA has been spray painted on a prominent Jewish school’s billboard in Caulfield.
Jewish leaders have slammed the vile attack on the sign at the corner of Briggs and Hawthorn roads, advertising an upcoming open day at Hawthorn’s Bialik College.
A billboard in Caulfield advertising Bialik College’s open day has been targeted with racist graffiti.
Bialik College principal Jeremy Stowe-Linder said he was “disappointed” and it was the first time in five years as principal the school had been targeted like this.
“(During my tenure) this is the first time such a situation has arisen and we’re grateful for the support from the Community Security Group and the wider community,” he said.
Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Dvir Abramovich told the Leader the incident was “despicable and cowardly”.
“It is beyond condemnation that anyone would deface a Jewish school billboard with the Nazi swastika — the symbol of an evil regime responsible for the murder of 1.5 million children in the holocaust,” he said.
The Leader also understands another billboard advertising tyres nearby on the corner of Glen Huntly Rd and Hoddle St was also graffitied with a swatiska.
The latest incident follows a recent spike in racist vandalism, including graffiti on a Malvern East home telling the occupants to “f*** off to your own home”.
And in March, the Leader revealed swastikas had been painted on play equipment at McKinnon Reserve.
Anti-semitic flyers were also posted along Carlisle St, Balaclava earlier this year.
Dr Abramovich said he feared the “disturbing” attacks could escalate to physical violence.
“Vandalism often leads to violence, and we should all be worried the individuals responsible for such disturbing expressions of bigotry are walking our streets,” he said.
“This despicable and cowardly act comes on the heels of a sharp spike in neo-Nazi graffiti in this area, and must be recognised as an attack on the entire community.
“Such acts are designed to publicly send a message of intimidation and hate and it’s important these (they) are condemned by our leaders and that those who are trying to sow fear in the hearts of residents are held to account.”