Boulder, January 21, 2010….Responding to reports of the defacement of a building in Gunbarrel with swastikas, the Boulder office of the Anti-Defamation League decried the hateful act and called for a full investigation of the incident.

Amy M. Stein, ADL's Boulder Community Director, issued the following statement:

ADL is disheartened to hear of the recent vandalism in our community and particularly disturbed to learn of the inclusion of a swastika. The swastika is an ugly symbol of hate, meant to instill fear.

We encourage a full investigation of this act as a possible hate crime by the Boulder Police Department. If this is found to be a bias-motivated act, we encourage full prosecution under the Colorado Bias-Motivated Crimes Statute and the Boulder Hate Crimes Ordinance.

We call for the Boulder community to speak out strongly against this crime and all acts of bias. Together, we must declare our community no place for hate.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.