Solidarity Rally With Jewish Community After Building Vandalized

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Education cures ignorance and hate. That's the loving message the Florida Holocaust Museum shared Thursday evening during its "Unite Against Hate" rally, held one week after its St. Petersburg building was vandalized with antisemitic graffiti.

Attendees brought books with significant meaning, and they stood in unity with books in their hands to stomp out hate.

A rabbi stood on a stage placed on Fifth Street South in front of the Florida Holocaust Museum and said, "Within each book, and within each of us, lives education. My book is from Elie Wiesel [the late Jewish author and Holocaust survivor who wrote over 50 books]. ... So tonight as we gather to unite against hate, we ask everyone to hold up your books — together — to remind the world that education is the solution to stopping antisemitism. Please hold up your book together with me and unite against hate."

Support extended beyond the Jewish community as LGBTQ members, Black Catholic priests and some Christians stood with Jews as they all held their books up high in unison. Some Jewish leaders such as Nikki Fried, Florida's agriculture commissioner and a candidate for governor, state Rep. Ben Diamond and Mayor Rick Kriseman also attended with books that hold educational value to them.

Kriseman brought "Love and Hate: The Story Of Henri Landwirth," written by Landwirth. According to Amazon, Landwirth's book is a guide to dissipating hatred and loving again in any circumstance. Landwirth learned how to overcome hatred following five years he spent in a Nazi concentration camp.

"What happened here breaks my heart," Kriseman said. "I only wish I could say that what happened here was an isolated incident, but it's not."

Vandals sprayed "Jews are Guilty" in black paint along the side of the building along with a swastika sign on May 27.

"It should be no surprise to anyone here that antisemitism is on the rise across the nation," Kriseman said. "As President Biden said just a few days ago, these attacks are 'despicable, unconscionable, unAmerican.'"

President Joe Biden also sent a letter of condolence to the museum staff for the recent vandalism of the building.

Toni Rinde, a Holocaust survivor and one of the Holocaust Museum founders, said, "When I heard the news of our museum being vandalized, I started to cry. And I said, 'No, now is not the time for tears. That is exactly what those despicable people want. They want to create fear, they want to create panic. Time to pull myself together, and respond in a proper fashion. And to make them understand they will not win.' There are too many good people who stand with us in solidarity for what is right."

Related Patch Story:

• Antisemitic Graffiti Defaces Holocaust Museum: St. Peter Police