Alderman: Equality mural at Lakeview school defaced with anti-Semitic profanity and swastikas
CHICAGO — A man has been arrested and charged in connection to a mural on the outside of a Lakeview elementary school being defaced with anti-Semitic graffiti that featured profanity and swastikas.
According to the Chicago Police Department, 43-year-old Jarrod Barnes was taken into police custody Monday around 3:15 p.m. in the 3200 block of North Broadway Avenue and charged with one felony count of a hate crime, one felony count of defacement of school property under $500, and one citation of possessing paint/marker with intent to deface.
Ald. Bennet Lawson told WGN News he was contacted by the principal of Nettlehorst School shortly after someone discovered anti-Semitic images and language on the building.
“There is an equality mural, it’s on the Broadway side of school and with a black marker, it was defaced with profanity and swastikas,” Lawson said. “There was also another sign that was a preschool ad that was defaced with a swastika.”
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The incident is the latest in a series of anti-Semitic incidents across Chicago.
“In the City of Chicago, we recorded more anti-Semitic incidents during these three months than in 2021 and 2022 combined,” said David Goldenberg, Midwest Regional Director of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
According to the ADL, there were 211 incidents of anti-Semitism in Illinois last year, a 74% increase from the year before.
Of the 211 incidents, 155 involved harassment, 54 were cases of vandalism, two were assaults and nearly 70% of those incidents happened after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks.
“We all need to have that safety and security we not only deserve, but should be part of our everyday life,” said state senator Laura Fine (9th District).
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