Vancouver Sun Sept. 2, 1995. (A3)

WEST VANCOUVER

Assistance sought in finding defacers of synagogue

David Hogben
Vancouver Sun

Attorney-General Ujjal Dosanjh is urging anyone with
information about the painting of a swastika and anti-Jewish
grafitti at a West Vancouver synagogue construction site to
come forward.

"What happened is not acceptable," Dosanjh said Friday.

"If there are people that know anything about this, they
should approach the police," Dosanjh said.

A swastika and the German words _Juden Raus_ (Jews out) were
painted on a billboard at the West Vancouver construction site
on Taylor Way between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Aug. 25.

Earlier last week, the North Shore Jewish Community
Association received a hate letter that read: "Look out, we're
watching you."

Dosanjh said it's important that people remain vigilant about
such behavior.

"We continue to ignore these things at our own peril; this is
not an isolated incident," Dosanjh said.

Erwin Nest, executive director of the Canadian Jewish
Congress, Pacific Region, supported Dosanjh's request.

Nest said it is likely someone witnessed the swastika painting
because Taylor Way is busy on Friday afternoons.

If sufficient evidence is gathered, Dosanjh said, the Crown
could approve criminal charges under hate literature
provisions or even for the lesser offence of mischief.

If criminal proceedings are not possible, the perpetrators
could face civil court action.

Police said no arrests have been made.

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