N. Hollywood Jews Targeted : Vandalism Directed at Religions Records a Rise

A government agency Monday reported an increase in anti-religious vandalism in Los Angeles County this year, largely because of anti-Jewish graffiti found at schools and homes in North Hollywood.

The county Commission on Human Relations said that, as of Thursday, it had received 45 reports of such incidents in 1986, contrasted with 21 during the corresponding period last year. Spokeswoman Bunny Hatcher said 34 of this year’s incidents were directed at Jews.

Rash of Vandalism

More than a dozen acts of vandalism, directed at Jewish families and at teachers at two public schools, have been reported in just over a month in North Hollywood. The latest anti-Jewish vandalism occurred last week at Coldwater Canyon Elementary School, where graffiti was found on a classroom door, Lt. Ron LaRue said.

The only connection among the victims of the vandalism in North Hollywood is that they are Jewish, LaRue said. Although the perpetrators are thought to be juveniles and the police have interviewed at least two youths, no suspects are in custody, LaRue said.

The Los Angeles Police Department’s anti-terrorist division also has been investigating the graffiti, most of which have been scrawled in crude German.

Victims Hurt and Angry

In visits with some of the victims in North Hollywood, Hatcher said, she found the families hurt and angered by the graffiti, which have included swastikas and obscenities.

One of those victimized twice by the graffiti was a Holocaust survivor whose mother, father and a sister were exterminated in death camps.

The number of incidents countywide from Jan. 1 to May 15 is the highest since 45 were reported during that period in 1982, Hatcher said.

Besides vandalism aimed at Jews, eight acts were directed at Muslims, and single acts were directed at Catholic, Mormon and Presbyterian churches, Hatcher reported.