Two residents issued emotional public comments at the April 21 City Council meeting, condemning a rash of swastika graffiti seen along Santa Monica Boulevard and expressing alarm over a planned rally they described as a threat to the community.
Anniejump Vicente, a longtime resident, said she encountered the graffiti while walking her dog two weeks earlier.
“I cannot tell you how disgusted I was to see swastikas painted all up and down the boulevard,” Vicente said. “What a disgrace.”
She noted that the graffiti appeared ahead of a rally scheduled for Sunday on the corner of Robertson and Santa Monica boulevards. Vicente described the event as a “quote unquote conservative rally” that she believes is a cover for promoting hateful ideologies.
“They’re going to get together to talk about their quote unquote free speech so that they can praise hate and speak hate,” she said. “We need people to speak out against fascism.”
Vicente linked the rally to a broader attempt to normalize extremist views, accusing one individual of attempting to “get away from toxic labels to allow Nazism and conservatism to enter into the quote unquote Democratic Party.” She urged the community to oppose the event forcefully.
“Do not let them speak. They do not deserve the right to speak hate, to preach hate,” Vicente said.
Tsukuru Fors, who spoke immediately after Vicente, echoed those concerns. Fors, a naturalized U.S. citizen and West Hollywood resident of five years, described the city as once a haven for queer individuals but said they no longer feel safe.
“I’m disappointed now. And not only disappointed — I am scared,” Fors said. “They are deporting naturalized citizens now, right? I don’t feel safe here.”
Fors raised concerns about the Sheriff’s Department’s potential cooperation with federal immigration authorities and called the rally “intentional,” saying the choice of location appeared to target the LGBTQ+ community.
“I can’t really fathom why we can allow this to happen in West Hollywood,” they said. “This rally is put on by people who threatened my life back in 2023 when I called for a trans rights rally in Washington, D.C.”
Fors ended their comments by describing their feelings as a mix of fear and outrage.
I have lived in WeHo for over 35 years. I was/am often asked by the narrow-minded and the closet bigots why I chose a “city of queers . As a straight woman I felt right in. Where else would a person who DESPISED bigotry feel more comfortable? I had always been told, from childhood, that I marched to the beat of a different drum. (I love that music). Although I am straight , these were MY people. They still are. We don’t always agree on everything…but I more in agreement in WeHo than many of the other places I have… Read more »
If anyone who embraces the identity of “conservative” includes a SWASTIKA as part their “Kit” I suspect I would look deeper for indications of bigoted attitudes. The SWASTIKA as a major part of Hitler’s regime will likely bring his name and creed to the minds of most sane humans. Symbols have always spoken louder than words and they remain in and as part our consciousness long after their actvities are past. Many fine and descent individual are conservatives ( I am not one). To use Hitler’s symbol besmirches the idea of conservatism. Nazi’s were NOT conservatives.
No date was given for the rally, when is it so we can counter protest.
The 1st Amendment rocks, people.
There are no swastikas on Santa Monica Blvd. She made the whole thing up. She doesn’t leave the house without her body cams, so where are the photos of these supposed hate symbols? If this rag made the slightest effort it would have confirmed if what she is saying is true before promoting this nonsense. She’s a liar and she made a fool out of you in her endless effort to make a fool out of the city.
Considering just what’s coming at West Hollywood it would be wise for vocal residents to put aside their personal hissyfits & transphobia directed at Trans & Civil Rights Activist Anniejump Vicente. The proud boys with other right-wing extremists planning their march on West Hollywood have voice in the current administration which has already eliminated nearly all Trans Rights gains made in the past 30+ years, with any & all LGBTQ+ Rights being targeted under the same premise in the near future❗
She is mad about fascist symbols yet calls for the government to not allow a rally. Isn’t that the definition of fascism?
How is Annie not in jail (or at least in-patient mental health facility) after multiple felony assaults. Can Weho Online investigate the state of those court cases? On the Swastika graffiti issue (I’m jew-ish FWIW), it seems the majority of this has been from the far-left, especially those affiliated with Pro-Palestine and Trantifa movements (something Annie is familiar with) targeted at those associated with Trump (e.g. Tesla due to misconstruing Elon’s “My heart goes out to you” gesture) or pro-Israel as a form of Holocaust inversion. I would not be surprised if Annie herself graffitied this to cause a scene… Read more »
Oh, but it’s OK to allow hate speech in Weho against Jews? And to incite violence, harm and even assassination against Trump and conservatives? We must be even handed in restricting free speech–ALL hate speech is bad.
Hate a love are not things that can be legislated. I find trumpism to be vile in the extreme; however, I find suppression of anyone’s right to peacefully assemble and speak their words to be a far more sinister stain on democracy. All words, even hateful words, are protected speech, unless they rise to the level of calling for violent action, then and only then, should they be restricted. Let them assemble (peacefully) and let them spew words with which many likely disagree. There will very likely be a few agitators on all sides seeking to use this event to… Read more »
The speakers call others Nazi but then complain about hate speech.