SANDY SPRINGS, Ga.,None — Sandy Springs police are investigating who sprayed hate-filled messages inside an apartment building.
I think a person who spreads hate like that, I think they need to get some help, Brandon Cage said.
Cage said that when he saw the images spray painted in the elevator of his apartment building he said it sickened him.
I just think its sad, people who say that kind of stuff. Youd think things have changed, but it hasnt, Cage said.
A concerned neighbor emailed Channel 2s Mike Petchenik photos of the swastikas and racial slurs that police found at Park Towers Luxury Apartments on Hammond Drive.
Sandy Springs investigators tell Petchenik they are tracking down leads.
People may not think we take it seriously, but we do, Cage said.
Rabbi Joshua Heller of the Congregation Bnai Torah said said the pictures are very distressing. Almost as distressing as the fact that Georgia is one of five states that doe not have a hate crime law, he said.
Bill Nigut, Director of the local chapter of the Anti-Defamation League told Petchenik the State Supreme Court ruled the previous hate crime laws were too broad and lawmakers haven't come up with one since.
That means those behind the images will likely face minor misdemeanor vandalism charges.
I would hope that our legislature would be thoughtful about creating legislation that protects all Georgians from being harmed for who they are,Nigut said.
Nigut told Petchenik educating people about the meaning behind the graffiti is important, especially since this isn't the first time someone's done this in Sandy Springs.
Those are images that bring up negative connotations, not just for Jews, but for other people, Heller said.
Sandy Springs police have notified the Anti-Defamation league about the vandalism and theyre asking anyone with information to give them a call at 770-551-6900.
WSBTV
