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Swastikas carved on door of Jewish couple's Lafayette apartment

Posted at 2:03 PM, Sep 07, 2017
and last updated 2017-09-07 21:41:15-04

LAFAYETTE, Colo. – A Colorado Jewish couple were victimized by hateful messages after carved swastikas started to appear on their front door.

Will Rosenbaum and his wife, Emma, discovered the Nazi symbol carved in the front door of their Lafayette home Tuesday. The couple again were targeted after the someone came back the next day and defaced the couple’s door with another hateful carving. Apartment management quickly painted over the graffiti.

 

"In my whole life, I've never experienced discrimination like this," Rosenbaum said. "But I'm not mad at those who did it. We just have to teach people like that that it's not okay to treat other people like this." 

 

The couple contacted Lafayette Police after both incidents and investigators have opened up a case. They are looking into possible hate crime charges once a suspect has been identified. Meanwhile, officers will increase patrols around the Lafayette apartment complex.

 

The couple told Denver7 that they moved to Colorado a year ago from New York City. They say this is the first time they have encountered hateful graffiti directed at them.

 

"If they're going to do it twice in two days, what else are the capable of doing?" Rosenbaum said. "What's next? What are they going to do? I'm worried they'll start throwing bricks through the window. 

 

Anti-Semitic incidents are on the rise in Colorado, according to a newly released Anti- Defamation League audit. The number of incidents in the state more than doubled in 2016 from the previous year, the audit found.

 

The League’s regional office condemned this latest act in a statement released Thursday. In reads in part:

“There are far too many instances of hate, such as this incident, taking place in Colorado. We are particularly concerned about an increase in anti-Semitic acts. This must not be tolerated.”