‘Message of fear’: Trespasser hangs anti-Semitic banner at Jewish center in Miami-Dade

HOMESTEAD, Fla. – A trespasser scaled a fence at the Homestead Jewish Center on Saturday to hang a banner with an anti-Semitic message ahead of Hanukkah, a Jewish festival also known as the Festival of Lights.

The Greater Miami Jewish Federation and the Anti-Defamation League released a statement on Monday saying the banner used shorthand references to neo-Nazi, white supremacist, and alt-right ideals.

“Hate crimes may target individuals or single institutions, but are generally done to send a message of fear and intimidation to entire communities – and so entire communities must denounce these insidious acts,” Sarah Emmons, the regional director of ADL Florida, said in a statement.

The Homestead Police Department is investigating the incident at 183 NE 8th St. Jacob Solomon, the president and chief executive officer of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, also released a statement saying they view the incident as a hate crime.

“The Jewish community will not be intimidated by such blatant attempts to frighten us into hiding our identity. We have always been and will continue to be proudly and outwardly Jewish.”

The community leaders are asking anyone with information about the incident to call 305-247-1535 or Miami-Dade County Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.


About the Authors
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Janine Stanwood joined Local 10 News in February 2004 as an assignment editor. She is now a general assignment reporter. Before moving to South Florida from her Washington home, Janine was the senior legislative correspondent for a United States senator on Capitol Hill.

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The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.

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