Vandals left their mark this week all over West Hollywood, spray-painting the anarchy symbol and messages such as “Free Gaza” and “Be Gay, Do Crime” on buildings throughout the city. Business License Commissioner Anthony Vulin shared these photos taken today with WEHOonline.com. Anti-Israel sentiment has reared its head in WeHo these past years, notably when the city placed a group of protesters at the vanguard of the taxpayer-funded West Hollywood Pride Parade last month.
More propaganda. Free Gaza is in no way anti-(Israel, What’s the big deal about some graffiti, anyway, especially when the message is contemporary? It’s only paint. And for those of you who state that Israeli soldiers do “everything” they can to protect civilians, you obviously haven’t been reading the news. Snipers on buildings in so-called “safe zones.” And for those of you who state that Hamas uses civilians as human shields, check out the fact that Gaza is one open-air prison and Hamas doesn’t have headquarters down some old side street. And by the way, the IDF uses civilians as… Read more »
Most of these building are private businesses. It’s a crime. Some of us who live in WEHO don’t believe in committing crimes. If people want to drive down the street with their free Gaza flags then by all means go for it but defacing private property is criminal. There are legal ways to express your feelings but defacing private property is not one of them. If you honestly think it’s acceptable to run around town and spray paint peoples private property you are not welcome in the community. Tolerance only goes so far.
No matter the message or how dumb the perp, somebody’s property was damaged who has to go to the expense and take the time to remove it. And we, the public, have to see it and feel less safe knowing there are actually people who are stupid and evil enough to do such a thing who walk among us.
When graffiti has been removed you can still see where it was, unless the wall has been repainted. So this kind of vandalism is still visible, even when it is gone.
I notice that some of the small sidewalk stencils popping up saying “Free Palestine” have more recently been spray painted over, crossing out “Palestine” and replaced with “the hostages” in large letters. This is a city so graffiti will happen, but seems to go both ways with this topic.
Wow. Ya know, I was always for the Jewish people, but seeing that graffiti totally convinced me to now dislike them. What an amazing message from an obvious scholar. (“That was sarcasm. These person is so dumb that they probably think Gaza is a pop star that sings “Bad Romance.”)
I can see why some people are triggered by this, but there are more important things to get upset by. Whoever is doing this is just attention seeking and trying to be cool, they probably have a Weird Al mullet, dumb glasses and wear overalls or something. Just about everyone in WeHo is trying to be cool and get attention, whether it’s the drag fans treating the sidewalk like their own fashion show, old queens doing coke in the bathroom, losers doing onlyfans, or this. Aren’t we all used to it by now?
Free Gaza, as a phrase by itself, is not anti-Israel. Many Israelis support a 2 country solution; if you spend a few minutes reading about Israeli politics, you will see how deeply divided the country is. Also, it looks like the perpetrator passed out from the paint fumes, so hopefully, they grabbed them.
Vandalism is always wrong & disgusting, That said, I agree with the commenters here that “Free Gaza” is in no way anti-Semitic or anti-Israel. I think that is a propaganda tool used by Israel to mislead & convince. I know Israel is responding to the Oct 7 attack by HAMAS, which of course is to be expected & I hope they annihilate HAMAS. However the visuals of dead Palestinian children, Israel blocking the delivery of food & water to Gaza, is horrible & also causes more death of very innocent human beings. I think the figure of dead Palestinians killed… Read more »
All of you “No More War” people rarely look below the surface or beyond the propaganda that Hamas, in this case, advances. The dead citizens are almost entirely the fault of Hamas who puts those people in harm’s way just so people like you will spout off as you are here. Israel does everything they can to protect Gazan citizens by sending advance warning when they plan to target a certain area, but Hamas won’t let those people move for the express purpose that they will then be killed… and then you will blame Israel. Israel does not block the… Read more »
Pushing anti-Zionism is very different from specifying your antipathy for Israel’s current far right leadership. Anti-Zionism is indeed anti-Semitism; but calling for the resignation of Netanyahu is simple politics, not bigotry.
Anti Zionism IS NOT ANTI-SEMITISM. Anti Zionism is anti Israel occupation of Palestinian land. That does not make them anti-Semitic.
In and of itself, the phrase “free Gaza” is not anti-Israel.
In fact a “free Gaza” has long been part of the official U.S. position regarding a two state solution to this conflict.
The “official” position, or the position of some officials?
Certainly under the Clinton, Obama and Biden Administrations that was our country’s position.
In FACT, Gaza has been independent since 2005 and in Hamas elected control. If anyone has an issue with Gaza not being “free”, look no further than to their elected terrorist government, not the Jews/Israel.
How is “free Gaza” anti-Israel?!?!
You all have lost the plot. Just the notion that Palestinians should be able to live in their country is not anti-Semitic or anti-Israel?!? Make the madness stop. Delusional
A free Gaza clearly means the death of a lot of Israelis.
See my response to No More War above.
Shameful, deluded morons–causing most people to despise them more than ever.
I’ll ask again. What color or shape of the pride flag represents Jew hatred? Surely the queers for palestine (wherever that is) must have representation! And we’re supposed to tolerant of others? I know I am. How about WeHo? Hmmmmm