Antisemitic messages found in 2 NC towns before Hanukkah begins

Two antisemitic messages have been found in central North Carolina this week, just as Hanukkah celebrations begin.

On Saturday morning, organizers of Apex Pride’s holiday celebration discovered a swastika and hateful language painted outside of Apex Town Hall.

Also over the weekend, a sign displaying antisemitic symbols and language was hung on a bridge over U.S. 1 in Moore County over the weekend and was discovered on Sunday, the morning of the first night of Hanukkah.

“I believe it was a cowardly act of hate intended to intimidate and disparage Apex Pride organizers and the LGBTQ+ community,” said DeAnna Conrad, the co-founder of Apex Pride.

Conrad said she was interviewed Friday afternoon in front of Apex Town Hall to promote the event. Hours later, the graffiti was put on the same building. She believes the two events are connected.

“I believe it was intended to make us afraid to have the event, to make our guests afraid to have the event,” Conrad said.

The event continued as planned.

In Moore County, a sign that included swastikas and hateful language was found Sunday morning in the Vass area, according to ABC11, The News & Observer’s media partner.

Moore County Chief Deputy Richard Maness told the N&O that his office is investigating this incident and has the sign. He said he was “not aware of any connection to other investigations currently ongoing in Moore County.”

Local, state and federal officials are investigating an early December attack on two electrical substations in Moore County that cut off power for several days for 45,000 customers. Law enforcement has not named a motive or suspects after the substations were disabled with firearms.

The most recent incident in Moore County drew condemnation from religious groups.

“It is especially indignant that anyone would engage in antisemitism on the first night of Hanukkah, a Jewish holiday that uses the light of the candle to bring brightness in to our community,” said Dov Wilker, regional director of the American Jewish Committee.

“The holiday of Hanukkah reminds us of the resilience of the Jewish people as well as the belief that miracles can still happen. I hope that the local law enforcement will do all that they can, to bring these perpetrators to justice.’

On Monday, the Council for American Islamic Relations also condemned the act.

“We thank law enforcement authorities for investigating this disturbing incident and stand with the Jewish and other minority communities targeted by bigotry,” said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper in a statement.

Hooper said CAIR and the American Muslim community support those challenging antisemitism, systemic anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.

Other antisemitic incidents

There have been other antisemitic incidents in the Triangle this year.

On Thursday, a student at Enloe High School in Raleigh hacked into the school’s intercom system to broadcast antisemitic messages, including “Heil Hitler.” The student is facing disciplinary action.

In August, Rabbi Eric Solomon, of Raleigh, found several antisemitic flyers in his neighborhood. He said law enforcement was “very sympathetic.”

However, spokesman Lt. Jason Borneo of the Raleigh Police Department told the N&O later that month, “These cases were investigated, but they are no longer active cases as they did not rise to the level of a crime.”

“The increase in hate and rhetoric makes us more determined to keep going, to show up and to continue to support and uplift our LGBTQ+ community,” Conrad said.

This story was originally published December 19, 2022 at 2:37 PM with the headline "Antisemitic messages found in 2 NC towns before Hanukkah begins."