Santa Monica family covers antisemitic graffiti with drawings of flowers, hearts

Authorities investigating antisemitic graffiti

Santa Monica City crews were expected to clean up the graffiti on Monday.

SANTA MONICA, Calif. - Police in Santa Monica are investigating after antisemitic graffiti has been plastered throughout the city over the last few days, and one family took matters into their own hands to cover up some of the images.

The graffiti was reported to the Santa Monica Police Department over the weekend. Swastikas and antisemitic messages marked sidewalks, trees and light posts, among other areas, in neighborhoods like the 2100 block of Pico Boulevard.

Taylor Coffman, Zach Lupetin and their daughter July live in the area. They reported the graffiti to the police, but also decided to beautify some of it. Together with a bucket of chalk, the family turned the swastikas into hearts, flowers and butterflies. They shared their project on social media. They say the world needs more art and less hate.

Antisemitic graffiti in Santa Monica

Police in Santa Monica are investigating after a rash of antisemitic graffiti across the city. One family tried to take matters into their own hands and cover it up.

"I was just like - this is a beautiful way to say ‘love lives here - we’re here, and we’re not going to stand for this kind of thing in our neighborhood,’" Coffman explained.

Lupetin and others in the Jewish community said they have noticed a rise in antisemitism recently.

"There’s so much darkness in the world already - we don’t need this symbol of hate and divisiveness in our community," he said.

Santa Monica Mayor Phil Brock condemned the symbols as "reprehensible" and emphasized the pain caused by their presence in the community.

Family covers antisemitic graffiti with flowers

Police in Santa Monica are investigating after antisemitic graffiti was found scrawled around the city. One family came up with a creative way to fight the hate, using chalk to turn the hateful symbols into flowers.

"It’s hurtful, and should not be happening in Santa Monica or anywhere," said Mayor Brock.

The SMPD responded to the area and removed or painted over many of the offensive images that remained, but as of 5:30 p.m. more had popped up in the city, which an SMPD Officer confirmed to FOX 11 had popped up in the last 24 hours. City officials say crews will be deployed around Virginia Avenue Park on Monday morning to remove or paint over the symbols.

"Let me be clear: there is no place for hate in Santa Monica," said SMPD Chief Ramon Batista in a statement. "We are appalled by these cowardly acts of anti-Semitism. Our department is fully committed to upholding the safety and dignity of all members of our community."

The department is asking anyone with information about the graffiti to contact them. by calling 310-458-8491, or by using the Santa Monica 311 app.