Swastikas and vile slogans have been scrawled on playgrounds, public property and people’s homes in the latest surge of anti-Semitic graffiti attacks from neo-Nazis.
Over the past week, bins and walls along Hawthorn Rd in Caulfield and Carlisle St in St Kilda were plastered with offensive slogans likening Jews to “insane same-sex paedophiles” and labelling them “just like Sodom”.
It comes after a playground at EE Gunn Reserve was also targeted with swastikas early last month.
Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Dvir Abramovich said the brazen and highly offensive graffiti had left the local Jewish community — which sits as high as 40 per cent in some parts of Caulfield and Elsternwick — feeling vulnerable and unsafe.
“It leaves people frightened when walking the streets of Caulfield, and (the offenders’) objective is to leave fear in the hearts of people,” Dr Abramovich said.
“It tells people they’re exposed and the neo-Nazis aren’t going away but we need to stand up and speak out and not allow the haters to win.”
Dr Abramovich said the floodgates had opened due to a targeted approach from neo-Nazis in recent times.
And he fears the offenders will continue with the “campaign of intimidation” and escalate their behaviours unless they’re caught and prosecuted soon.
“People are feeling much more comfortable expressing bigotry these days but we have to make sure it never becomes normalised,” he said.
“We need to push back because if it becomes normal, everyone is a target.
“It might begin with the Jews but it won’t end with the Jews and all forms of prejudice will flourish because they hate all minorities.”
Victoria Police has been contacted for comment.