There were signs of hate at a busy St. Petersburg intersection. Somebody spray-painted swastikas on political signs of a Democratic candidate for governor, Philip Levine.
“Unfortunately, we have a hate monger who’s the president of our nation today,” said Levine, from a campaign stop in Boca Raton.
“Who has fought for our country? Jews, African Americans, Hispanics, men, women, everybody and to have that kind of terrible hatred, it just goes to show you that we’re ready for change.”
With Rosh Hashanah two weeks away, Rabbi Alter Korf of the Chabad Jewish Center of St. Petersburg said the start of the Jewish new year is a time to reflect on man’s purpose in life.
“Our differences is not something that should get between us, cause hatred. In the contrary. Each of us are different, ’cause we have a different mission and different purpose,” said the Rabbi.
As for the swastikas, Rabbi Korf hopes whomever did it can find something positive in their life.
“To see this here in St. Pete, expressions of hatred, just are disturbing and should be disturbing to all people,” he said.
Levine believes the perpetrator should perhaps re-live a little history.
“And we took them to a concentration camp, and we took ’em to Normandy, and they understood what our nation fought for, and fought against, they’d probably get out there and wipe that sign off themselves,” said Levine.
Philip Levine said he doesn’t plan to file a police complaint. Instead, he’s encouraging people to get out and vote on Tuesday.
