On June 2 the Winnipeg Jewish Review learned that there was another incident involving a swastika in River Heights. A swastika was marked on a garage of a residence on Waterloo and Fleet, with the words Heil Hitler. Two separate members of the community noticed this and reported it to B’nai Brith’ s office in Winnipeg.
Alan Yusim, executive director of B’nai Brith Mid West region noted that “It appears we are having somewhat of a rash of swastikas in River Heights. Members of the community should be vigilant in reporting any incidents of this kind to B’nai Brith.”
Yusim noted that the swastika found on Waverly St appears to have been made by black marker as was the swastika found a few days earlier on a bus shelter on Grant and Lanark, but it is unclear if this is simply a co-incidence.
On Friday afternoon, May 28 the Winnipeg Jewish Review received a telephone message from one of its subscribers Susan Riley. Riley said “ I receive your Winnipeg Jewish Review which I really enjoy on line and I’ve read that you have covered the swastika that was drawn on the house on [762] Campbell St [recently], and I wanted to let you know that I was driving down Grant today and on the south side of Grant and I think it's Lanark is a huge swastika drawn on a bus shelter right on top of an ad for the University of Winnipeg Collegiate.”
Riley mentioned it was disturbing to see this.
Following receipt of this tip from Riley, The Winnipeg Jewish Review went to the scene to photograph this swastika and on Friday afternoon May 28, at two p.m. the Winnipeg Jewish Review was the first to report the existence of the swastika on this bus shelter on Grant and Lanark, (which is in front of where the former Ramah School was located) to the City of Winnipeg. The swastika was written on glass next to an advertisement for the University of Winnipeg, on the bus shelter and appeared to be made in black permanent marker, which will likely need to be scraped off with a razor blade.
After calling the 311 line of the City of Winnipeg, the Winnipeg Jewish Review spoke with a woman who identified herself as Amanda to report this racist graffiti. Amanda said that there had not been any other report of this incident and a reference # of 329-801 has been assigned.
According to Amanda, the police will be notified as well as the City of Winnipeg street maintenance department.
“Usually within one business day, there will be someone who goes down and writes up a report and then the graffiti is usually removed within one business week”, Amanda said.
The City of Winnipeg is responsible for removing the swastika, and not Winnipeg Transit.
The Winnipeg Jewish Review currently does not have any information as to how long the swastika has been there.