Waukegan police say someone vandalized a Jewish cemetery by spray-painting swastikas on headstones, an act the city’s mayor called despicable.
Police said they were called Monday morning to the Am Echod cemetery in the 3000 block of Grand Avenue, and found 39 headstones that had been defaced with red paint. Sixteen large headstones had been painted with swastikas, the city said.
Another 23 stones had been painted with nonspecific graffiti, according to police.
Waukegan Mayor Ann B. Taylor issued a statement Monday saying she was “deeply disturbed and angered by the hateful imagery.”
“Hate does not have a home in Waukegan; when such incidents occur, our marginalized neighbors are victimized, and our entire community suffers,” she said. “I hope our officers promptly locate the perpetrators of this despicable act and hold them accountable, and I offer my full support to those directly impacted by this vandalism.”
More Top Picks How To Handle Homework Meltdowns Without Yelling
This case is considered open and active, police said. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call the Waukegan police Tip-Line at 847-360-9001.