The Zionist Organization of America is demanding charges be dropped against rabbis Peter and Zechariah Mehler, father and son, accused of tearing down a Nazi swastika mural in Milwaukee.
The Mehlers were charged with felony criminal damage to property after being accused of using a hammer and ax to tear down the mural, which showed a Star of David combined with a swastika last September, Fox6 Milwaukee reported.
The ZOA and Betar North America said the Nazi swastika mural was causing anguish and pain to the people of Milwaukee.
"A Nazi symbol has no place in any civilized place, anywhere," the ZOA said in a release. "Milwaukee would never permit signs of hate against the African American, Hispanic or gay community, so why do they permit hatred against Jews?"
Ihsan Atta, the owner of the building told Fox6 the mural was "to bring attention to the genocide that's taking place against the Palestinian people currently in Gaza."
The prosecution of the Mehlers sends the message that Milwaukee is not a safe place for anyone who values liberty, justice, and security, the ZOA said.
"This father and son are heroes who removed a dangerous symbol from the center of this city," Morton Klein, the president of the ZOA said. "The Jew-hater who proudly displayed this racist public sign should be accused of a hate crime and should not be welcomed in polite society.
"Milwaukee has a very simple choice to make: whether they stand with the Jewish community, or those who support Nazis and Hamas."
Sam Barron ✉
Sam Barron has almost two decades of experience covering a wide range of topics including politics, crime and business.
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