Washington, D.C., authorities have opened an investigation after swastikas were found drawn on several exterior columns at Union Station on Friday, just one day after International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Amtrak Police and the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department are collaborating to investigate the incident, which caught their attention after images of the vandalism cropped up on social media early Friday morning.
“Amtrak strongly condemns this act of hatred and will work with our landlord, USRC and their lessor to remove these symbols as quickly as possible,” Amtrak spokeswoman Kimberly Woods told the Washington Examiner.
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Authorities have not made an arrest, but they believe the suspect is homeless and experiencing mental health challenges, MPD Chief Robert Contee told reporters Friday.
“I’m confident that Amtrak will be able to bring that case to closure,” he said. “We’ve been in touch with our Jewish community as well as Jewish leadership to talk about the incident that happened [and] what we’re doing.”
Several groups decried the imagery as an act of antisemitism.
“To find such a symbol of hate at the entrance to Union Station is unacceptable and is not just an affront to Jews, but to all Americans,” said Gil Preuss, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, in a statement to the Washington Examiner. “Swastikas are a chilling symbol of Nazi hatred and have no place in our society.”
International Holocaust Remembrance Day commemorates the victims of the Holocaust, with Thursday marking the 77th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp. To find such vandalism one day later emphasizes the need to end “anti-Jewish hatred,” Preuss said.
“The recent surge in antisemitism over the past year, including the hostage crisis at Congregation Beth Israel in Texas two weeks ago and the antisemitic fliers that have been disseminated in DC, Miami, Denver and San Francisco over the last few weeks, must end,” he said.
The vandalism also caught the attention of some Washington lawmakers, who noted they were working with agencies to clean up the area.
“Absolutely no place for this hate,” said Charles Allen, Ward 6 councilman, on Twitter. “I’ve contacted several agencies this morning requesting immediate help to clean up and remove this offensive graffiti.”
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The vandalism comes as antisemitic attacks are on the rise in the United States, with 2021 being the worst year for such violence in a decade, according to a report by the American Jewish Committee.
This story is developing and will be updated.
