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THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE.

Earlier story is below.

 

Sacramento TV station KCRA reported Thursday, Sept. 16, that a midtown mural featuring Israeli basketball player Omri Casspi had been vandalized with a swastika again, according to police.

The new swastika was reportedly found Thursday morning on the same mural, located at 16th Street near R Street, and shortly thereafter removed by a city crew, according to police Sgt. Norm Leong. Police are unsure when the vandalism took place, Leong told KCRA.

Anyone with information on the case should call Sacramento police at (916) 264-5011.

 

SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ADL AND MALOOF SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT RELEASED THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS:

“The Anti-Defamation League condemned these acts before and we do so again,” said Dan Sandman, Director of the Anti-Defamation League’s Central Pacific Region, which includes Sacramento. “The ADL is confident the Sacramento Police Department is taking the proper steps in allocating additional resources to catch those responsible, and we are proud to have the Sacramento Kings and the Maloof family standing with us as we say together, ‘In Sacramento, there is no place for hate.'”

“We absolutely condemn these sickening acts of intolerance and we’re working closely with the Anti-Defamation League to support the Sacramento Police Department and help bring those responsible to justice,” said Joe Maloof, co-owner of the Sacramento Kings. “We are matching the reward the Anti-Defamation League previously offered and we are hopeful this comes to a swift resolution.”

[The ADL had previously offered a $1,000 reward (see story below).]

Anyone with information relevant to the case is urged to contact the Sacramento Citizen’s Crime Alert Program at (916) 443-4357 or to text 274637.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world’s leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry. Visit our website at www.adl.org.

 

 

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ADL offers reward after Kings’ mural with Omri Casspi defaced

The Anti-Defamation League announced Sept. 14 that it is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual or individuals responsible for painting a swastika on a billboard image of Omri Casspi, the Israeli-born Sacramento Kings forward.

A backward swastika was painted on the forehead of Casspi’s photo on the billboard. The incident was reported at around noon on Sept. 8.

Casspi, reached Sept. 9 at his home in Israel, told the Sacramento Bee that he was familiar with the incident, which is being investigated as a hate crime by local police. “Everybody’s talking about it. It’s hurtful to think that this is 2010, and there are still people like that out there,” he told the newspaper.

“It’s probably just some idiot who wants some publicity,” Casspi said. “But I know the people in Sacramento, and they have been wonderful to me. I know they must feel bad about this. Same thing with the Kings. I’ll just let the police handle this and focus on having a great season.”

Dan Sandman, director of ADL’s Central Pacific Region, said people with relevant information should contact the Sacramento Citizen’s Crime Alert Program at (916) 443-4357 or send a text to 274637. — jta