Canadian Billboard Defaced: "Kill All Jews"

Police probe hateful message, swastikas
By: Jen Skerritt

Updated: August 1, 2008 at 12:50 AM CDT

Winnipeg police are
investigating the city's latest hate crime after eight swastikas and "kill the
Jews" were scrawled in black ink on a Canadian Museum for Human Rights billboard
at The Forks.

Winnipeg police Const. Robert Carver confirmed the
incident is considered a hate crime and that the graffiti will be wiped off once
police complete their investigation.

The much-anticipated museum will be
the first national museum outside of the Ottawa region and the first new
national museum in 40 years.

The violent message and swastikas -- a
symbol commonly associated with the fascist Nazi regime in Germany in the 1930s
and SSRq40s -- were scrawled beneath a billboard illustration of the Canadian
Museum for Human Rights on the future site where it will be built at The Forks.

Gail Asper, the driving force behind the museum, sent an e-mail
statement to the Free Press saying the hateful incident shows exactly why the
museum is needed.

"The support for the project has been overwhelming,
with very few negative incidents to date, which demonstrates that by and large
Canadians are tolerant and respectful," the statement read.

"But despite
our best efforts to educate Canadians about the importance of equality and
diversity, intolerance and hatred persist, which is precisely why we need this
museum."

Anita Bromberg, director of legal affairs for B'nai Brith
Canada, called the incident deplorable, and said it's clear Asper and her strong
connection with the Jewish community was the target of the violent message.

Bromberg said it's unfortunate someone defaced an initiative aimed at
community building and ending hatred, proving Winnipeg is not immune from
anti-Semitism.

"A death threat is just deplorable, and unfortunately it
comes in the aftermath of the other swastika incident in Winnipeg," she said,
referring to a sign targeting Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz. "We have to come together
and fight this kind of hate."

According to a B'nai Brith audit, hate
crimes, including harassment, graffiti and violence, increased by more than 60
per cent in Winnipeg last year.

There were 41 incidents reported,
compared to 25 in 2006.

Bromberg said Winnipeg has seen an increase of
hateful graffiti and also more violent threats against the Jewish community -- a
trend she said is similar across Canada.

"It's a frightening message,"
Bromberg said.

The graffiti comes just two weeks after a person posted a
sign of a swastika aimed at the city's Jewish major in a West End apartment
window. Around the swastika were the words "Danger" and "Katz."