Los Angeles – September 29 – The Anti-Defamation League lauds the City of Beverly Hills and its Police Department for the rapid response to a spate of incidents of anti-Semitic and racist graffiti over the weekend in several Beverly Hills locations.

“The Beverly Hills Police Department should be commended for treating this matter as a hate crime and felony malicious mischief.  We also praise the city crews for their speedy removal of the graffiti,” said Amanda Susskind, Director, Pacific Southwest Region of the ADL.

“Defacing public or private property with insignias of hate is an act of hostility that affects our entire society, not just the groups identified in the graffiti.  The Beverly Hills Police Department has demonstrated that these acts will not be tolerated,” said Susskind.

Susskind also noted that these activities are especially alarming in light of the fact they coincided with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, one of the holiest days in the Jewish calendar.