Antisemitic Messages At Ventura Places of Worship Under Investigation as Hate Crimes

VENTURA, Calif. (KEYT) – Police are investigating multiple instances of antisemitic and white supremacist messages at local places of worship and a public park as potential hate crimes.

The messages included swastikas and "other hateful imagery" and were discovered between the afternoon of Sep. 4 and the morning of Sep. 6 at locations including Temple Beth Torah, Higher Vision Church, and Juanamaria Park off Kimball Road detailed the Ventura Police Department.

Investigators currently believe all three are connected to the same person or persons and the messages have since been removed added the local law enforcement agency.

According to Ventura Police, the vandalism is being investigated as hate crimes as some of the locations were targeted due to their religious affiliations, but there is currently no information about an ongoing or increased threat to specific faith groups nor the broader public.

"With Rosh Hashanah beginning this week and Yom Kippur approaching, we know these incidents may be especially concerning for members of our Jewish community," shared Chief of Police David Dickey. "We take these incidents seriously, and we will thoroughly investigate them and work to hold those responsible accountable."

Joshua Burt, a regional director with the Anti-Defamation League and member of Temple Beth Torah, expalined, "These incidents are a reminder of how hatred often starts with antisemitism and then quickly metastasizes and endangers us all."

Some of the messages used common white supremacist slogans including the image below from vandalism found at Juanamaria Park.

Anyone with more information, especially if you saw the vandalism or have relevant information about the perpetrators, is asked to contact Detective Daniel Strautman at 805-339-4466.