BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. โ Security camera footage released by the Beverly Hills Unified School District captured a man drawing a swastika on the sidewalk outside El Rodeo Elementary School, the district said on Monday. The symbol was removed and Beverly Hills police are investigating.
Surveillance images show a man in a white T shirt and baseball cap carrying a tote bag and what appears to be a marker as he bends down and draws the symbol on the pavement. The district posted the footage as part of its report to the community.
The incident was discovered the same day Rosh Hashanah began, a timing district officials said made the act particularly distressing for Jewish families. The district said the graffiti was removed immediately after it was found.
โThis hateful symbol was visible just steps away from a campus where students, staff, and families arrive to learn and feel safe,โ the Beverly Hills Unified School District said in a statement. The district added that antisemitism is real and will not be tolerated and that it remains committed to ensuring every student feels safe and supported.
โEvery student deserves to come to school without fear,โ Superintendent Alex Cherniss said in a separate statement, saying the district will respond with transparency, responsibility and care.
Beverly Hills police said they have opened an investigation. Officials have not identified a suspect and no arrests have been reported. Local law enforcement agencies said they increased patrols around houses of worship and Jewish community sites during the High Holy Days.
Beverly Hills Mayor Sharona Nazarian called the incident unacceptable and said city and police efforts have stepped up to protect the community. Nazarian said the symbol was placed on the ground several weeks ago and was recently flagged by a community member. She invoked the phrase Never Again in condemning the act.
The episode underscores broader concerns among Jewish communities about visible acts of intimidation and the need for heightened security at schools and communal institutions. District leaders said they have strengthened campus safety and surveillance in recent years.
This article is based on verified information from the Los Angeles Times, CBS Los Angeles, NBC Los Angeles, and the Beverly Hills Unified School District.