President Joe Biden has spoken up about a recent attack on two Cincinnati Jewish cemeteries, saying local investigators will have the support of his administration.
Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Cincinnati (JCGC) announced on July 1 that 176 gravestones at the Tifereth Israel Cemetery and the Beth Hamedrash Hagadol Cemetery, both at the Covedale Cemetery complex, were found damaged on Monday morning.
According to the press release from JCGC, the cemetery groundskeeper said there was no signs of vandalism when they last mowed on June 25. Once they returned on July 1, the affected tombstones, some of which date back to the late 1800s, were either knocked over or cracked in half. Most of the vandalized gravestones were pushed face down, which JCGC said makes it challenging to identify the affected families while investigators continue to process the crime scene.
"Our hearts go out to the families affected by this senseless vandalism," JCGC said in the initial press release. "The Jewish community in Cincinnati is resilient, and we are committed to repairing the damage and restoring the sanctity of these sacred spaces."
The cemetery is directly on the border with Cincinnati in Green Township. An investigation is being conducted by Green Township Police and the FBI, according to the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati.
National leaders speak up
National organizations and leaders have started to speak up about what happened to the historical Jewish tombstones on Cincinnati's west side.
President Biden announced on July 3 that authorities will have the support of his administration to investigate the "vile" vandalism.
"The vandalism of nearly 200 graves at two Jewish cemeteries near Cincinnati is despicable," Biden said on X. "This is Antisemitism and it is vile. I condemn these acts and commit my Administration to support investigators in holding those responsible accountable to the full extent of the law."
"The vandalism of nearly 200 graves at two Jewish cemeteries near Cincinnati is despicable," Biden said on X. "This is Antisemitism and it is vile. I condemn these acts and commit my Administration to support investigators in holding those responsible accountable to the full extent of the law."
The vandalism of nearly 200 graves at two Jewish cemeteries near Cincinnati is despicable.
— President Biden (@POTUS) July 3, 2024
This is Antisemitism and it is vile.
I condemn these acts and commit my Administration to support investigators in holding those responsible accountable to the full extent of the law.
Congressman Greg Landsman, who is Jewish, also spoke out about the vandalism after visiting the burial site.
"Because of the generosity and care of so many, these headstones will stand again," he added to Biden's statement on X.
"Because of the generosity and care of so many, these headstones will stand again," he added to Biden's statement on X.
Because of the generosity and care of so many, these headstones will stand again. https://t.co/VuKV8HijTy pic.twitter.com/IxnvMcubua
— Congressman Greg Landsman (@RepGregLandsman) July 3, 2024
The Jewish Council for Public Affairs released a statement on X, saying antisemitic vandalism makes everyone unsafe.
“This is unacceptable, disgusting behavior. Antisemitism and hate make Jews - and everyone - unsafe,” the organization said.
175+ graves were vandalized at Jewish cemeteries in Cincinnati, Ohio.
— Jewish Council for Public Affairs (@theJCPA) July 3, 2024
This is unacceptable, disgusting behavior.
Antisemitism and hate make Jews - and everyone - unsafe. https://t.co/X5b4YUSWAy
KKK flyers in Over-the-Rhine
"Saw this on the ground during my walk this morning (I crossed out the number because I don’t want anyone actually calling it)," one Reddit user said in a post with a picture of the KKK flyer. "What the hell is going on in OTR? This is terrifying. I know 'free speech' or whatever allows them to exist, but I feel like this could be considered an actual threat."
The Trinity White Knights are a known KKK group based out of Georgetown, Kentucky that remained dormant until 2015, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. Overall, distribution of flyers by KKK groups remained low in 2023, hovering around 18 known instances, but the Southern Poverty Law Center reports that Trinity White Knights accounted for most of these distributions.
CityBeat asked Rabbi Ari Jun, spokesperson for the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, if he believes the KKK flyers are connected to the destruction at the two historic Jewish cemeteries.
"Flyers like this are disseminated so frequently that it would seem risky to presume so much," he said. "They both represent dramatic upticks in hate towards the Jewish community. They come out of the same cultural context. I don't think there's no relation, but I wouldn't presume that the people who passed out the flyers necessarily had anything to do with the vandalism in the cemetery."
CityBeat reached out to local law enforcement agencies and the FBI to ask if they are investigating a connection between the KKK flyers and the vandalism, but did not hear back by press time.
Um…why is this in my neighborhood?
byu/Powerful-Mirror9088 incincinnati
The Trinity White Knights are a known KKK group based out of Georgetown, Kentucky that remained dormant until 2015, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. Overall, distribution of flyers by KKK groups remained low in 2023, hovering around 18 known instances, but the Southern Poverty Law Center reports that Trinity White Knights accounted for most of these distributions.
CityBeat asked Rabbi Ari Jun, spokesperson for the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, if he believes the KKK flyers are connected to the destruction at the two historic Jewish cemeteries.
"Flyers like this are disseminated so frequently that it would seem risky to presume so much," he said. "They both represent dramatic upticks in hate towards the Jewish community. They come out of the same cultural context. I don't think there's no relation, but I wouldn't presume that the people who passed out the flyers necessarily had anything to do with the vandalism in the cemetery."
CityBeat reached out to local law enforcement agencies and the FBI to ask if they are investigating a connection between the KKK flyers and the vandalism, but did not hear back by press time.
Investigators are urging anyone with information about the incident to reach out to Crime Stoppers at (513) 352-3040.
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