Northbrook police are investigating an incident of antisemitic graffiti outside of a home in a residential area, according to the department’s Community Relations Supervisor Richard Rash.
According to Rash, a resident of the 1300 block of Church Street called police Saturday at 8:26 a.m. to notify them of graffiti on his lawn and exterior property. The graffiti, about one square foot in size, contained messages that said “Free Palestine” and were scribbled over the homeowner’s Israeli flags and property.
Rash said only one home on the block reported the graffiti damage and the homeowner did not know why they were targeted. Rash said the department estimated that the graffiti was written overnight on Friday. He said there are no surveillance cameras in the area.
Earlier in the week, an electronic billboard in the Northbrook/Deerfield area near the Edens Expressway flashed antisemitic messages such as “Death to Israel.” Rash said the timing is curious, but the department cannot make a determination as to whether the incidents are related.
Rash said the resident estimated the damages of the graffiti to be $30. Rash said the incident is being investigated as a property damage crime, and not a hate crime because no known motives are known behind it.
The village of Northbrook released a statement on Facebook over the weekend:
“The Village Board is reminding everyone that as a community it is imperative we speak out against any and all discrimination, xenophobia and hatred. Hate speech against anyone, or any group, is harmful to everyone.”
“The Northbrook Village Board unequivocally condemns antisemitism and all acts of hate speech. We stand together with the Jewish community, family members, friends and neighbors. Northbrook is an inclusive community and welcomes all.”
