Oak Park townhouse development vandalized with antisemitic message
Oak Park police said they are investigating incidents of antisemitic vandalism at the site of future townhouses as a hate crime.
Police said they received a report Wednesday about a home in a 300 block of Home Avenue that was vandalized with an antisemitic message.
John Scheiss, the architect and builder for the developer who plans to break ground on the townhouses in July, said the issue has actually been ongoing last week. He said antisemitic items started showing up at the site a week ago; each day or so something new would pop up.
Scheiss said last Friday someone wrote a question – "Thoughts?" – on the sign announcing the development plans at the site. Scheiss said someone replied with the word "No" in a bold black marker.
Then over the last week someone placed a white chair near the sign.
"it also had some figurines, one was a like a toy action soldier kind of thing, doing the Heil Hitler salute, and a gun in the other hand, and there was a little coffin," Scheiss said.
The words "NO JEW" were then spelled out with wooden construction stakes that were on the property.
Neighbors eventually came out to find graffiti on the blank yellow back of the sign that read "NO JUIF" with a Star of David.
"Juif" is the French word for "Jew" or "Jewish," and was used on the yellow star badges during the Nazi occupation of France during the Holocaust.
That was the last time the sign was defaced.
"They don't appear to fear getting caught, even with all the windows looking and the condominium. There's plenty of chances to be seen, yet they're emboldened to do that," Scheiss said.
Police said detectives have been reviewing nearby security camera video and collecting evidence at the home, police said. Police have also increased the presence of beat officers in the neighborhood in the wake of the incident to support residents and address concerns.
They are also working with regional law enforcement partners to see if there are any other related incidents or trends, police said.
"We're challenging this hate, it's and supporting the people that need to be supported right now," said village president Vicki Scaman. "Antisemitism is not okay in the village of Oak Park. It is not accepted. We don't accept hate of any kind."
"It's just something really ugly, and it's being part of the community. It's hard to live around that, knowing that that's here," Scheiss said.
If you have any information about this incident, you're encouraged to contact police at 708-386-3800 or email police@oak-park.us.
