The Trump graffiti appeared ahead of the US President’s final campaign rally ahead of the elections, in what is regarded as a crucial swing state.
A 100-year-old Jewish cemetery in the 2020 election swing state of Michigan was discovered to have been desecrated with graffiti bearing the words “Trump” and “MAGA,” an abbreviation for Donald Trump’s campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again”, according to photos released by the Anti-Defamation League of Michigan.
The civil rights organisation wrote on Twitter that it was “appalled” by the reported desecration.
The cemetery in the western Michigan city of Grand Rapids belongs to Congregation Ahavas Israel, a Conservative synagogue.
According to Rabbi David Krishef, cited by Jewish Telegraphic Agency, the vandalism was discovered Monday and purportedly occurred over the weekend.
“It’s Halloween weekend, there was nothing spray-painted that indicated anything specifically anti-Semitic. Whoever did this may or may not have known that this was a Jewish cemetery,” said the Rabbi, adding:
‘Definitely Vandalism’
Carolyn Normandin, regional director of ADL Michigan, said the ADL will continue looking into the incident at the cemetery.
“It was definitely vandalism and it was definitely political in nature but we have no reason to call this straight up anti-Semitism because there were no anti-Semitic symbols on the gravestones that were vandalized,” said Normandin, adding:
According to Normandin, labelling the cemetery vandalism as an “extremist” incident would be “a bridge too far”.
The desecration was discovered on same day as Donald Trump was scheduled to hold a final campaign rally in the Grand Rapids area ahead of Election Day on 3 November.
Michigan is a key swing state that both the current incumbent and his Democratic opponent have been battling for.
U.S. President Donald Trump tosses out Make America Great Again (MAGA) caps as he arrives for a campaign rally at Oakland County International Airport in Waterford Township, Michigan, U.S., October 30, 2020. REUTERS/Carlos Barria
Trump similarly held a rally in Grand Rapids on the night before the 2016 election, having since spoken of his final swing of campaign events in 2016 as a reason why he won the state of Michigan.
In a statement regarding the desecration at the cemetery, the Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus said that “this heinous act was committed on the eve of the 2020 election to send an intimidating message to the president’s opponents, and particularly, Jewish voters.”
He added that the “Grand Rapids’ Jewish community will not be cowed by this vile attack on Ahavas Israel.”
Sourse: sputniknews.com
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