A swastika was painted onto a building near Sixth and Lincoln Streets. Chabad at IU, a Jewish student organization, posted photos and videos of the incident on their Instagram story Saturday evening.
The swastika is denoted as a hate symbol by the Anti-Defamation League.
This off-campus incident coincides with Hanukkah, a Jewish holiday. Some notable Jewish leaders interpret Hanukkah as a celebration of religious freedom. After discovering the symbol off campus, Chabad leaders responded by lighting the traditional Hanukkah candles in front of the swastika Saturday evening.
“It is not a place of hate,” Rabbi Levi Cunin said during the candle lighting in a video on their Instagram story. “Campus is a place of love. We will therefore be spreading love.”
A photo posted to Chabad’s Instagram story shows individuals painting over the swastika with white paint Saturday evening.
An incident involving a painted swastika near the area in question was reported to the Bloomington Police Department, BPD Captain Ryan Pedigo said in an email.
