Three synagogues were defaced last week with Nazi swastikas and slogans. The building housing the Jewish Board of Education and Hillel, and a delicatessen also had Nazi messages scrawled on the outside of the structures in magic markers and crayons. In addition, a note was found tacked to the front door of the JBE-Hillel building stating: “Kike’s kids blood will run.”
The defacements and note followed a meeting of the local Nazi party a branch of the National Socialist White People’s Party, earlier in the week. The three synagogues defaced were Temple Menorah. Temple Agudas Achim and Congregation Beth Jehudah.
In recent months the local Nazi party has painted swastikas on schools and synagogues which had to be sandblasted off and passed out anti-Jewish and anti-Black literature at high schools. The local Nazis, dressed in uniform, have also staged marches every Saturday in a downtown plaza. Matt Koehl, national commander of the National Socialist White People’s Party, has suggested that Milwaukee be a “test city” for Nazi activities because of the possible racial tension. The local party, while numbering only some two dozen members, has been quite active.
Several weeks ago an injunction was issued to prevent the group from distributing literature within 200 feet of any school entrance or exit and requiring that the police be informed of any intentions by the group to distribute literature. Warrants charging two party members with disorderly conduct were also issued following a scuffle in which several people sustained minor injuries.
PROGRAMS TO DEFUSE SITUATION
The Milwaukee Jewish Council and the Wisconsin board of the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith said they are undertaking a number of programs and activities to try to defuse the situation and limit the actions of the Nazis, including meetings with Mayor Henry Maier, police officials and calls for strict enforcement of the law “against any unlawful activities by the Nazis or their followers.”
The two Jewish defense organizations issued what they termed a “few words of caution,” including opposition to the creation of vigilante groups or alliances with radical left youth groups to combat the Nazis. They noted that the right by Nazis to distribute hate literature on the streets “is clearly protected by the First Amendment” provided that the distribution of such literature does not constitute a “clear and imminent danger” of violence.
The two Jewish groups noted that since a large number of elderly Jews live on the West Side of Milwaukee where Nazi activity has been concentrated, “these small acts of harassment have created a climate of anxiety.” There have been no reports of physical violence against the Jews in that area. Assurances have been given to the two Jewish groups and rabbis by the mayor and police officials that there would be increased surveillance of Jewish buildings and homes. There is also continuing contact with local and federal law enforcement agencies regarding the Nazi activities.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
