Graffiti spraypainted onto a wall opposite Sainsbury’s car park on Crown Street in Shirley reading “Stop Zionism Now” has been removed by Southampton City Council, who issued a strongly worded statement, saying the graffiti “does not represent Southampton in any way.”
The word Zionism refers to a belief that supports the right to an independent Jewish state.
Shirley resident, Andrew Lee, first spotted the graffiti last week before it was painted over on Thursday afternoon.
Speaking to the Echo, he said: “I believe in free speech and that people have the right to express anti-Zionist views provided it’s done correctly.
“I flagged this and similar public graffiti because of the potential to cause offence and make some members of the community feel targeted or unsafe. Especially as similar rhetoric has inspired attacks on Jews elsewhere.
“For those reasons I don’t think it should be tolerated or seen as acceptable.”
The graffiti comes in the same week that swastikas and homophobic language was written on an alleyway in Clarendon Road, Millbrook, and a little more than a week after swastikas and “more dead Zionists” slogans were painted on an underpass in Southampton Common during Shavuot, a three-day religious holiday.
In April, swastikas were also painted on trees in Southampton Common, that coincided with the anniversary of the liberation of Bergen-Belsen, a Nazi concentration camp where around 50,000 Jews, prisoners of war, and political prisoners were killed.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Southampton City Council, said the graffiti would be removed “as a matter of urgency.”
A council spokesperson said: “Southampton City Council takes all instances of offensive graffiti extremely seriously.
“We will be removing this graffiti as a matter of urgency. We strongly condemn this vile act of vandalism and won’t hesitate to cooperate with the authorities to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
“Southampton is a tolerant and inclusive city, and this graffiti does not represent our city in any way.”
