Veterans, leaders and the many around the world paused to remember the 75th anniversary of D-Day. More than seven decades after allies beat the Nazis, people in South Lake Tahoe are rallying to combat a modern prejudicial message aimed at Jewish people.
The graffiti under the Trout Creek Bridge on Highway 50 in South Lake Tahoe sends a message of bigotry and prejudice. For the dozens of people gathered at the location on Thursday evening, they've got a much different message to send back to whoever put it there.
“Never again and not in our town,” said Rabbi Evon Yakar of Temple Bat Yam.
A collection of people from different faiths have come together to say that the anti-Semitism of World War II and other times in history, will not be repeated in this tight knit community.
“I want to offer support. Our community is better than this,” said South Lake Tahoe community member Carline Sinkler.
“It's not welcome in our town. If you really feel that way and that's a concern you have. Whatever experience may have led you to that belief, let’s have a conversation. I’m open to it,” said Rabbi Yakar.
The message from one South Lake Tahoe police detective however is a little different.
“We will find you and we will prosecute you,” said Detective Ross Molesworth.
Rabbi Yakar was informed by a former member of the congregation about the graffiti last week. “My understanding is that they were floating on the creek, either a kayak or paddleboard or something,” said Rabbi Yakar.
He believes the message is recent.
"With the winter we had and how high the snow was, it had to be recent. That area was snow covered. There was graffiti there that was cleaned up a year ago. So my assumption is that it happened after the snow melted,” said Rabbi Yakar.
Organizers of the rally say that Caltrans will clean up and paint over the graffiti next week.
