White Supremacist Arrested for Vandalizing Norfolk Synagogues

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:

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Norfolk Synagogues Marred by Anti-Semitic Slurs

As an unpleasant reminder that Norfolk remains a part of the backwards and reactionary South despite its progress on some fronts, a number of synagogues in my general neighborhood - which is probably the most liberal in the region - were marred by overnight with anti-semetic and racial slurs. Sadly, there are several hate groups identified by the Southern Poverty Law Center that hail this region as their home base. These are white supremacist and neo-Nazi type organization and it is thought that perhaps the incident coincides with the marking of Hitler's birthday (April 20th). One of the synagogues hit is attended by a good friend of mine and his family. As noted, an anti-gay slur was also found. It is disturbing that only by hating others do the sick adherents of such groups feel better about themselves. Here are some highlights from the Virginian Pilot:

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Several synagogues and streets were vandalized with anti-Semitic and racial messages discovered by worshippers early Saturday morning, a Norfolk police spokeswoman said. Police are investigating reports of vandalism in at least five places in the Ghent neighborhood and on Granby Street, said Karen Parker-Chesson, a police department spokeswoman. An anti-gay slur was reported at one location.

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Police investigators think the slurs might have been done to mark the birth of Adolf Hitler, Parker-Chesson said. Hitler was born April 20. The Anti-Defamation League says hate groups are planning gatherings in Florida, Missouri and North Carolina to commemorate Hitler’s birth.

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The stickers shocked worshippers at first, [Rabbi Michael] Panitz [of Temple Israel said. “People were certainly sobered and in some cases, it triggered some very personal, some very sad memories because our worship congregation includes people who are refugees from lands of oppression,” he said. “But there was certainly a collective, quiet resolve that we will not be terrorized … from worshipping in public together.”