Residents in South Philly woke up Wednesday to swastikas and racist graffiti referencing Donald Trump spray-painted on a storefront.
“We are horrified by the appearance of hate graffiti on a storefront in South Philadelphia,” said Nancy K. Baron-Baer, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League. “Swastikas and the Nazi salute send a message of intolerance and hate to the entire community. The fact that today is the 78th anniversary of Kristallnacht adds another layer to this already sickening act.”
The incident came the day after Trump won the 2016 presidential election, shocking a majority of the country. It also took place on the 78th anniversary of Kristallnacht attacks of Jews in 1938 Germany. And there are reports that there is similar graffiti in other parts of the Philadelphia area, indicating that with Trump’s win came an increase of racist events.
“The acts of political and racial vandalism that occurred this morning in South Philadelphia must be condemned in the strongest possible terms,” the city’s Mayor Kenney said in a statement.
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“As I said in my statement to residents today, in the wake of the election, Philadelphians must work tirelessly to bridge the divides that have plagued this nation for decades. I know that many residents are planning to take part in vigils and rallies tonight and in the days ahead, and I urge you to gather respectfully and peacefully.”
Trump was able to tap into the economic anxiety of much of white America, coupled with links to fears of them losing their country to immigrants and people of color. We hope this incident in Philly is not a sign of what’s to come.