BALTIMORE — Investigators with the Baltimore City Police Department along with the local FBI office are investigating swastikas found in the 5900 block of Cross Country Boulevard.
According to an incident report obtained by WMAR-2 News police responded to the area after a woman noticed the racial symbol on her basement door.
The other swastika was found on a community bench on the same block near Key Avenue. The racial symbols have responding, some with sadness, others with hope.
"I didn’t feel threatened," said Martin Cohen. "I didn’t feel like my life was in danger. I saw it as, this is some person’s expression of something wrong in their heart. I though, 'What can I do so that it doesn’t happen again?'"
Judith Levitan owns a daycare center across the street from the tagged bench.
"It only takes one person to make a swastika," said Levitan. "One person made a very bad mistake. It hurts my heart."
Since it's discovery someone taped a white piece of paper over the symbol. In its place is a heart with the words "Love Not Hate."
"We are happy that someone did that but it'll fall off if it rains," said Levitan. "We would really like the city to take this seriously and clean the bench. It's been there for at least 48 hours."
"We have several neighbors who are also Holocaust survivors," said Judith Landman. "Hate is not okay. I hope that somebody comes and cleans it up soon."
Police have not made any arrests in the case but are asking anyone with information to contact them.
According to a department spokes person the BPD's Jewish Liaison is following up with the victim as well as the Jewish community as a whole.
