MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. — Police are investigating and several political officials have spoken out after antisemitic graffiti was found along the Bethesda Trolley Trail in Montgomery County Monday morning.
The graffiti was reported around 6:30 a.m., according to the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD). There are no suspects at this time.
MCPD is asking people who live nearby to check any ring cameras or other home surveillance videos.
Later in the day, the Montgomery County Council issued a statement saying the graffiti in the Wildwood neighborhood and along Old Georgetown Road and Tuckerman Lane left them feeling "horrified and saddened."
"We have seen a troubling rise in antisemitic incidents nationwide and, tragically, this deeply alarming trend is also occurring right here in Montgomery County," the statement reads. “The Council stands in strong solidarity with our Jewish community and condemns all acts of hate and religious bigotry. There is no tolerance in Montgomery County for these hateful actions and abhorrent, violent imagery attacking the Jewish community."
The council unanimously passed a resolution on Nov. 1 reaffirming their commitment to addressing antisemitism and protecting the Jewish community.
“These hateful acts are not only a desecration of public spaces but hurtful and damaging to the entire Montgomery County community."
Scroll down to read the council's full statement:
“We are horrified and saddened by the recent displays of antisemitism in and around the Trolley Trail in Bethesda. We have seen a troubling rise in antisemitic incidents nationwide and, tragically, this deeply alarming trend is also occurring right here in Montgomery County
“The Council stands in strong solidarity with our Jewish community and condemns all acts of hate and religious bigotry. There is no tolerance in Montgomery County for these hateful actions and abhorrent, violent imagery attacking the Jewish community.
“Earlier this month, the Council unanimously passed a resolution reaffirming our commitment to address antisemitism and protect our Jewish community from these awful acts of hate.
“These hateful acts are not only a desecration of public spaces but hurtful and damaging to the entire Montgomery County community.
“The Council extends its deepest gratitude to the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) for actively investigating these antisemitic acts and thanks the Department of Transportation for a swift response and clean-up.
“In Montgomery County, we must continue to come together, stand up and forcibly speak out against violence and hate in any form. We must do everything we can to make it clear that hate has no place here.
“We ask anyone with knowledge or information about these crimes to contact MCPD immediately.”
Montgomery County Executive Mark Elrich said this is the second time in just over three months that the Bethesda Trolley Trail has been tagged with antisemitic graffiti in the Wildwood neighborhood.
"My Chief Administrative Officer, Rich Madaleno, visited this morning and was also appalled," Elrich said. "To see this happen again just a few months later is truly upsetting."
The County Executive claims this more graffiti was found at a second location near Old Georgetown Road and Tuckerman Lane, where a brick wall was tagged.
"Antisemitism, hate, and attempts at intimidation in any form should not exist nor be tolerated anywhere, especially in a community like Montgomery County. I have had to personally deal with antisemitism throughout my entire life, and I have always hoped that there would be a day in my lifetime when it would no longer be a part of our society," he said. "Sadly, from pop culture icons to right-wing hate groups, we are witnessing a rise in antisemitism throughout this nation. I never imagined we would be at this place in the 21st century."
Alan Ronkin, Director of the American Jewish Committee Office in DC called the graffiti a "sickening reminder of the rise of antisemitism in our county."
In a statement, Ronkin points out the graffiti was found less than two weeks after the Montgomery County Council passed the Resolution to Address and Combat Antisemitism.
"Not two weeks after the Montgomery County Council unanimously condemned hatred of Jews, antisemites are standing up loud and proud," Ronkin said. "The Jewish community will not be intimidated by these vicious messages. We stand together with our friends and allies as a proud and strong community."
Scroll down to read Alan Ronkin's full statement:
"The antisemitic graffiti found in Bethesda today is a sickening reminder of the rise of antisemitism in our county. Not two weeks after the Montgomery County Council unanimously condemned hatred of Jews, antisemites are standing up loud and proud. The Jewish community will not be intimidated by these vicious messages. We stand together with our friends and allies as a proud and strong community. We thank local law enforcement for their attention to this incident and to local officials who facilitated having the graffiti removed.”
This isn't the first time antisemitic graffiti was found along the Bethesda Trolley Trail this year. In August, officials found graffiti written on the trail which had the phrase "white power 1488," and swastika symbols.
Anyone with information is asked to contact MCPD detectives at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online.
Police found multiple cans of spray paint as well as more evidence that connects the suspects to the vandalism.