More on the hate crime in Fountain Hills
Turns out the ugly racial incident in Fountain Hills—in which some black residents had their cars vandalized with racial and sexual insults—is part of a series.
The Arizona Republic story on the issue is a bit unclear about what exactly has happened in the town. The resident, Michele Jabar, is quoted saying there have been “several” racial incidents. We then read:
Jaber was referring to a prior incident in Fountain Hills in which vandals sprayed more than a dozen cars with swastikas and graffiti of male genitalia.
Note the word “incident.” But then comes this news, a graf or two later, emphasis added:
Maricopa County sheriff’s deputies are investigating several cases as possible hate crimes, including an incident in which someone wrote the word “Jew” on another car in Fountain Hills, law-enforcement officials said.
The town is having a meeting to support the Jabars, but she, for one, is saying she might leave town:
Jaber plans to attend tonight’s service. She hopes residents will rally together to champion more racial and cultural tolerance in the community.
“I just wanted people to know that you can wash off the cars, but you can’t wash off the hate,” Jaber said. “Hate starts at home.”
The story doesn’t mention another anti-Semitic incident that occurred in Tempe on Friday night—a demonstration outside a synagogue. (“The anti-Semitic demonstration in Tempe no one’s talking about.”) The protesters, who according to an eyewitness held signs saying “Kill the Jews,” however, were from out of town.


