US teen apologizes for twisting family menorah into swastika

An Arizona teenager arrested for twisting a menorah in the front yard of a family’s home into a swastika posts an apology on Facebook.

Clive Jamar Wilson, 19, one of four teens arrested on March 17 for the December 30 incident, tells the Ellis family of Chandler that he was sorry, the East Valley Tribune newspaper reports. The Facebook page appears to have since been removed.

“My name is Clive (CJ) Wilson. I am writing this post to say I am truly sorry for the insensitive prank which my friends and I participated in during the holiday season last December. What we did was reckless, stupid, idiotic, and insensitive,” he writes, according to the local paper. “From the bottom of my heart I apologize to your family. From the bottom of my heart I can tell you that that is not the way of my Jamaican heritage.”

He also reportedly writes that he “made a mistake when I joined my friends in a very insensitive prank. If I could turn back the clock and remove myself and my three friends from participating in the horrible prank I would. But I can’t.”

Wilson then explains that his father attended a “Jewish university,” Brandeis, and has since taught him about Judaism and its values.

Naomi Ellis on Sunday accepts the apology in a statement to the newspaper.

“We believe that (Wilson) is sincerely sorry for his reckless actions. It is encouraging to know that he is taking the initiative to learn more about Jewish history and culture,” the statement says. “It is our hope that he will continue to learn the importance of tolerance and respect for diversity. We will continue to rely on the judicial system and on the Chandler Police Department to follow the next steps in the process, she says.

— JTA