Antisemitic graffiti on pedestrian underpass 'makes me feel sad, sick': Winnipeg Jewish Federation president

WARNING: This story contains disturbing images of antisemiticgraffiti.

Representatives from Winnipeg Jewish organizations sayantisemitic graffiti spray-painted in a pedestrian underpass including swastikas, an SS insignia and a Star of David with a line through it is saddening andsickening.

The graffiti on thewalkway under Fermor Avenue near Niakwa Park was cleaned up by City of Winnipeg crews on Wednesday afternoon, but was still visible as late as Wednesday morning. It had been there since at least Sunday, according to people CBC spoke with.

Red spray-painted graffiti on the underpass before the cleanup also includeda threat toward Jewish people, and the words "free Palestine" on either side of the underpass entrance.

"I don't think I've ever felt unsafe until this last month," said Belle Jarniewski, the executive director of the Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada.

"I've never seen or heard the kind of vitriol expressed by so many people, publicly without shame."

Jarniewski said the "temperature has really been turned up" since the latest conflict between Israel and Hamas began in early October.

The images on the walkway leave her feeling sad that "people are thinking like this in our city," she said, and such incidents have "had a terrible effect" on the city's Jewish community.

"We've had to increase our security, of course, in this building [and]synagogues," said Jarniewski, speaking from the Asper Jewish Community Campus.

"I was at synagogue last Saturday and there was a policeman on duty," she said.

"It's unconscionable that people would respond as they do, but on the other hand, we also are now far more aware that very sadlythere are many people that hold these horrific antisemitic attitudes."

The City of Winnipeg said in a statement to CBC News Wednesday that cleanup crews have been to the Fermor walkway "multiple times in the last few weeks" for graffiti removal, and are checking the site regularlyfor further cleanup.

The statement also said when the city is made aware of a location with graffiti that is racist in nature,it'sprioritized.

Crews are sent to remove it "as quickly as possible, as has been the case with this location over the last few weeks," the city said.

'Ordinary Jews are so scared right now': MP

Winnipeg police said in late October they have seen an increase in suspected hate-motivated crimes, including graffiti, as tensions amidst the conflict in the Middle East have escalated in the city.

The Jewish Federation of Winnipeg was set to hold a safety presentation in conjunction with the Winnipeg Police Service Wednesday night to teach community members how to identify and respond to hate crimes, along with providing practical personal safety tips,a release from the organization said.

"It's sad that we have to see this kind of graffiti and hateful display of rhetoric in our beautiful city," said Gustavo Zentner, the president of the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg.

"It makes me feel sad, sick to my stomach and worried."

He expected Wednesday's event to be importantforpeople in the community who don't feel safe as they see more hate.

In addition to graffiti, Winnipeg police said last month they were investigating several possible hate-motivated crimes inthe River Heights neighbourhood, including a home that hadits front windows shot out and a religious item that was vandalized and left in a parking lot.

Ben Carr, the member of Parliament forWinnipeg South Centre which includes River Heights says people in his riding are traumatized.

"We have people that are taking their mezuzahs, the religious symbol that identifies a Jewish home, off of their doors," he said from Ottawa on Wednesday.

"This is not people who are out in the public space talking in any type of hostile way about what's happeningthese are just ordinary Jews that are so scared right now."

Jarniewski hopes people can get back their sense of safety, buthateful images and messages aren't helping.

"If people don't report these things to the police, then they're not going to know about them and they won't be able to deal with them," she said.

Watch: See the walkwaywhere the antisemitic graffiti was found

Winnipeg pedestrian underpass plastered with antisemitic graffiti

11 months ago

Duration 2:09

Swastikas and other hateful messages were painted on a Winnipeg underpass recently, the latest incident that has some Jews saying they're feeling unsafe.