In a disturbing act of antisemitism, a swastika was discovered spray-painted on a wall near Philadelphia's Horowitz-Wasserman Holocaust Memorial Plaza. The hateful symbol, measuring approximately 2 feet by 2 feet, was spotted early Sunday morning on the wall of the Verizon building on Arch Street, adjacent to the memorial plaza. The incident was captured on surveillance video, which showed a masked man quickly scrawling the Nazi insignia with green spray paint at around 1:30 am.

The suspect, described as an "unknown male," was last seen wearing a dark, possibly brown, jacket with a white stripe across the chest and down the arms. Eszter Kutas, the executive director of the Philadelphia Holocaust Remembrance Foundation, expressed her deep upset over the presence of a hate symbol at a Holocaust memorial plaza. She stated that it was especially distressing to see such an act of vandalism in a place meant to honor the victims of the Holocaust.

Prompt action was taken to remove the swastika within hours of its discovery. However, this vile act of defacement highlights the disturbing rise in antisemitic incidents across the United States. According to data gathered by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), there has been a significant increase in antisemitic attacks since the outbreak of the deadly conflict in the Middle East, triggered by the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. The ADL reported a staggering 360% jump in domestic antisemitic attacks during this period.

Andrew Goretsky, the regional director of ADL Philadelphia, strongly condemned the act of defacement near the Holocaust memorial plaza. He emphasized that this reprehensible act not only desecrates a symbol of remembrance but also underscores the alarming rise in antisemitism plaguing the community.

The Horowitz-Wasserman Holocaust Memorial Plaza, which is managed by the Philadelphia Holocaust Remembrance Foundation, is the oldest public Holocaust monument in the US. It was commissioned in the 1950s by Holocaust survivors and members of the Jewish community and was erected in 1964. The memorial underwent a redesign in 2018, incorporating new installations and artifacts.

The incident has sparked an investigation by the Philadelphia Police Department, who are urging anyone with information about the suspect to come forward. They can contact detectives at (215) 686-3093 or submit an anonymous tip at (215) 686-TIPS.

This act of vandalism serves as a grim reminder of the ongoing battle against antisemitism and the need for continued education and remembrance of the Holocaust.