Rally planned after ‘abhorrent’ graffiti appears

Edmontonians are being encouraged to attend a rally this week to protest a spree of swastika graffiti that continues to draw condemnation from affected communities.

“There is no place for these illegal and disturbing acts in our communities or anywhere else in Alberta,” Edmonton-McClung MLA Lorne Dach said in a Saturday Facebook post. “I, along with the vast majority of Albertans, strongly condemn these acts of hatred.”

Dach thanked residents who “acted quickly to paint over the graffiti.”

In the post, Dach said he will be attending a communal demonstration against the “abhorrent” vandalism Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Talmud Torah School, 6320 172 St. The school’s basketball court was one of the sites targeted by vandals.

The gathering is being organized by the Talmud Torah Society.

Steven Shafir, president of the Jewish Federation of Edmonton and a member of the board for the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, issued a statement Sunday saying the community was “shocked and deeply disturbed.”

Shafir said the community would work with government officials and police “to ensure that Jewish Canadians ... remain safe.”

Police responded to four cases of swastika graffiti in the Lessard, Gariepy and Callingwood South neighbourhoods Friday. The graffiti is believed to have been painted early Thursday.