Police are investigating an image with a swastika and other antisemitic markings that was left on a building in downtown Camden last week.
There have been a few other cases of antisemitic imagery appearing around Maine in recent months, including pro-Hamas flyers found near a Bangor synagogue in November and a father and son from Harpswell who were charged with painting swastikas and other antisemitic graffiti on a road earlier this month.
There has been an uptick in reported cases of antisemitism since the Israel-Hamas war started on Oct. 7, and a recent study found that an increasing percentage of Jewish Amercans feel less secure now than they did a year ago, according to the Associated Press. Similarly, Muslim advocacy groups have also reported large increases in harassment since the war started.
The image in Camden, which was placed on the side of the building on Bay View Street, featured an altered picture of a with a swastika on her arm and other Holocaust references, according to Camden Police Chief Randy Gagne. The incident is still under investigation.
After the image was reported, state Rep. Vicki Doudera of Camden said that hatred and harassment have no place in Maine, according to the PenBay Pilot.
“Camden is a welcoming town, a place that harbors love and hope — not hatred. I invite everyone to join me in standing with my Jewish American friends and neighbors against antisemitism and antisemitic acts,” Doudera said.
