Community turns out to call for end of hate and bigotry in South Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - "Never again," chanted the dozens of people that showed up to Trout Creek Thursday to show support of the Jewish community after anti-Semitic graffiti was found underneath the bridge on Lake Tahoe Boulevard.

Rabbi Evon Yakar of Temple Bat Yam called on the multi-faith community of South Lake Tahoe to come together at the bridge as partners against hate and bigotry, and use the words painted on the underpass as a sign that South Lake Tahoe will not tolerate this type of message.

Leaders of churches from North Lake Tahoe and Carson City joined those from South Lake Tahoe in denouncing the message of hate against the Jewish population.

"I am overwhelmed, heartened and motivated by the turnout," said Rabbi Yakar of the approximately 70 people that showed up on the last-minute notice of the community gathering. "This is why I am involved in our community."

"We stand in love and partnership," he told those gathered at the bridge.

Communal Stateline from Rabbi Evon Yakar in response to the graffiti:
We are the response, all of us standing here in this moment and all those who have reached out in support and solidarity, are the response that is NEVER AGAIN. We often hear this phrase as a promise and as a commitment to combating all forms of hatred, of othering, of bigotry, of ignorance and specifically in this case, to anti-Semitism. Never Again is a slogan that when heard, brings to mind images of the Holocaust during World War II, it brings to mind tragic events resulting from bigotry and it brings to mind the commitment we make to ourselves, to our community and to our world.

When all of us are able to stand together in this moment as witnesses to this expression of anti-Semitism, which is a symbol of hate and bigotry, we are the response of Never Again. Yet, we are challenged because owe dreams of an existence, of a life in which never again means forever. And yet, we are also not naive to think a slogan or this beautiful moment of unity and solidarity is enough, or will ever be enough. All of us are well aware that as we stand as the response we do so as one important step in the fight against all acts of hate in all its ugly forms.

In 1993 when graffiti, bigoted flyers and pamphlets and vandalism struck the Native American and Jewish communities of Billings, Montana, a movement was born. Not In Our Town was born out of the communal response, as thousands of residents stood up and chased the perpetrators away. We do not want to be here, we should not be here in this moment, but we are compelled to be here because we are saying together: Not In Our Town.

We could very well have chosen to simply clean up this graffiti and say Never Again. But our collective and unified actions to stand together to make this public statement demonstrates the beautiful potential of our community. Together as communities of faith, as law enforcement and public safety officials, as citizens and elected leaders, as employees and business owners we are turning this symbol of hate into a moment of beautiful unity, partnership and solidarity.

Let this moment be a clarion call to double down as the response of Never Again. Let each of us look around and recognize the amazing relationships that define us as a South Shore community so that as we've been inspired by other cities and towns we can, in turn, inspire others to be the response of Never Again. Let us also know that we stand here with each other, in support and solidarity with each other as the response of Never Again.

The "Don't Trust Jews" spray painted on the underpass isn't the only sign of anti-Semitism found over the last year in South Lake Tahoe. Last summer the same underpass had swastikas and "Nuke Israel" painted on it, and recently a box of microscopes at South Tahoe High has a swastika painted on it.

The box was loaned to Bijou Community School before the marking was found and has led to multiple conversations at the high school.

"We are turning hate on its end," said STHS Principal Carline Sinkler at Thursday's gathering. "We're better than that. Diversity is our strength."

Sinkler said while they address the message of hate at the school it has to be the whole community addressing the message and prevent hate from creeping in.

"I am really proud of our community getting together at the last minute," said El Dorado County Supervisor Sue Novasel who is also a founding member of Temple Bat Yam. "We're not just recognizing the message but saying it's not right, and won't be in our town."

Detective Ross Molesworth of the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) was also in attendance with fellow officers. He said SLTPD would appreciate help from the community when graffiti or other displays of hate are found in the community. He said they will document everything in order to find the perpetrator(s).

"The town will find you," said Molesworth.