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WEBVTT ORMAL,CLEANED UP AROUND 10:30 AFTERPOLICE AND HOMELAND SECURITYWE'RE CALLED IN TO INVESTIGATE.A SINGLE SWASTIKA'S PAPER ANDDID ON THE SIDE OF --SPRAY-PAINTED ON THE SIDE OFHEBREW UNION COLLEGE IN THEIRINVESTIGATION AS CINCINNATI'SFIRST HATE CRIME OF THE YEAR.THE NAZI SYMBOL IS A REMINDER OFTHE PHONE -- REMINDER OF THEPAIN ENDURED BY JEWS AROUND THEWORLD.>> THERE ARE THOSE WHO HAVE ONTHEIR ARMS THE NUMBERS TATTOOEDFROM THE CAMPS, OR MEMORIES THATCAN NEVER LEAVE THEIR EMOTIONS.TO SEE THAT ON A JEWISHINSTITUTION, OR ANYWHERE FORTHAT MATTER, BRINGS BACK ALL OFTHOSE HATEFUL MEMORIES ANDDIFFICULT TIMES.EMILY: PART OF THE CINCINNATICOMMUNITY FOR MORE THAN 140YEARS, THE COLLEGE HAS SECURITYCAMERAS ON CAMPUS, BUT POLICESAY THERE ARE HOURS OFSURVEILLANCE VIDEOS TO WATCH.>> THE REALITY IS A WALK BY ORDRIVE-BY THAT TOOK A MOMENT ORTWO -- IT WILL BE HARD TO VERIFYANYTHING SUBSTANTIVE ANDSPECIFIC.EMILY: THE COLLEGE SAYS ITS 100STUDENTS ARE CURRENTLY ON BREAKAND WILL RETURN TO CAMPUS IN TWOWEEKS.UNTIL THEN, SECURITY WILL REMAINTIGHT AS EVERYONE IS REMINDED OFTHE REALITY OF OUR WORLD ANDWHAT CAN HAPPEN RIGHT HERE ATHOME.EVEN WITH STUDENTS ON BREAK, THECOLLEGE SENT OUT A MASS EMU TOTALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED THISMORNING.CINCINNATI POLICE ARE ASKING FORYOUR HELP, UNCLEAR IF ITHAPPENED LATE LAST NIGHT OREARLY THIS MORNING.THEY ARE ASKING ANYBODY THATKNOWS ANYTHING TO CONTACTPOLICE.

Advertisement Swastika spray painted on Hebrew college sign, CPD says Police are investigating after early morning vandalism at the school Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Police are investigating a case of anti-Semitic vandalism at a Cincinnati Hebrew college. Cincinnati police said the spray painted swastika on a sign at Hebrew Union College, was reported Tuesday morning. Around 8 a.m., someone driving by the college along Clifton Avenue saw the vandalism and posted it on social media. Once the school was notified it called police. The school filed a criminal damaging report, according to police. The vandalism was classified as a hate crime. "This is a very powerful symbol of hate," Rabbi Ken Kanter said. "We still have survivors living in Cincinnati and around the world who have on their arms, their numbers from the camps tattooed or have memories that will never leave their own emotions and their own thoughts." Kanter is associate dean at Hebrew Union College and also director of its rabbinical school. "To see that on a Jewish institution, a Jewish school in this case or anywhere for that matter brings back all of those really hateful memories and difficult times," Kanter said. Students were not on campus at the time, but the school sent a mass email to students and faculty. The school's 100 students are currently on break and will return in two weeks. Police said there are surveillance cameras on campus, and the department is working with the college to search through hours of footage to see if the criminals were caught on video. "The reality is, in basically a walk-by or drive-by, that took a moment or two, it's going to be very hard to find out anything substantive and specific," Kanter said. Mayor John Cranley said in a release that the city is committed to find the perpetrator: “This act of hate perpetrated against our brothers and sisters at Hebrew Union College is an attack on our entire community. I am deeply offended and disturbed by these actions. The City is committed to using all of our resources to bring these criminals to justice. As we work to build a more welcoming and inclusive City, we will not stand for this intimidation.“ Police told WLWT is it still unclear if the crime took place late Monday night or early Tuesday morning. Anyone with information is asked to contact Cincinnati police.