Back in April I wrote about the vandalizing of several Norfolk, Virginia, synagogues, one of which is attended by very good friends of mine and their family. Now an arrest has been made and surprise, surprise, it seems that the alleged vandal - John Edward Grogan (pictured at left) - is affiliated with a neo-Nazi white supremacist organization, Volksfront, identified as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. I guess Grogan's big mistake was not to enlist in the U.S. military, which is accepting white supremacists but not gays, of course, or get a job with Fox News rather than damage the synagogues. Here are some highlights from the Virginian Pilot:*
Police on Monday announced the arrest of a man charged with vandalizing several synagogues in April with anti-Semitic, anti-gay and racist messages. John Edward Grogan, 29, of the 200 block of Elizabeth Ave. in Waynesboro, was arrested there July 9, said police spokeswoman Karen Parker-Chesson. She said investigators at first did not want to compromise the investigation by releasing Grogan's name when others involved remained at large. Investigators now hope to generate new information and leads, she said.
*
Worshippers at Temple Israel on Granby Street arrived to find anti-Semitic stickers on windowpanes and the side of the building on April 18. Police said at least five locations in Ghent and on Granby Street were vandalized but declined to name them. The suspects were caught on videotape, which was released to the media.
*
Grogan is affiliated with Volksfront, an organization Parker-Chesson described as white supremacist. A tattoo on Grogan's neck, visible in his mug shot, resembles a symbol found on one of the stickers used in the vandalism. Parker-Chesson said his arrest came as a result of Crime Line tips and police investigation. Authorities think the slurs might have been done to mark the birth of Adolf Hitler, who was born April 20, 1889, Parker-Chesson said.
*
In some way it truly is frightening that hate filled people like Grogan continue exist in this day and age, but then one only has to look at the Faux News backed tea-baggers, the birthers, the protesters disrupting Democrat townhall meetings on health care reform to realize that there are a lot of whacked out nut cases in this country - most of whom are now the Republican Party's base.
No comments:
Post a Comment