Omri Casspi mural defaced again

**Odysseus** · 09-20-2010, 11:23 AM

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Sacramento police are hoping any possible witnesses will come forward after a mural of Sacramento Kings player Omri Casspi was defaced with a swastika for the second time in a little more than a week.

Police say after a swastika was found painted on the mural of Casspi on Sept. 8, the mural was found defaced again Thursday morning.

Casspi, who is Jewish, is the only NBA player born in Israel.

The most recent incident comes after a $1,000 reward was offered by the Anti-Defamation League for information leading to an arrest after the mural was defaced the first time.

Joe Maloof, co-owner of the Sacramento Kings, released a statement Thursday describing the vandalism as "sickening acts of intolerance."

Maloof says the team is matching the reward offered by the Anti-Defamation League.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

Here is the story of the first incident:

Omri Casspi Mural Defaced With Swastika
Painting Vandalized Just Before Jewish Holiday

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A mural featuring Sacramento Kings small forward Omri Casspi was defaced with a swastika just before an important Jewish holiday.

The mural is near 16th and R streets in midtown Sacramento, about a half-block from Fremont Park.

Casspi, who is Jewish, was raised in Israel and is the only NBA player born in that country.

The vandalism was reported Wednesday morning; the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah begins at sunset Wednesday.

Based on a preliminary investigation, Sacramento police said the vandalism might be investigated as a hate crime.

Jewish leaders said the vandalism shouldn't be taken lightly, calling whoever did it a "village idiot."

Images -- Mural Vandalized

"This kind of attacks on people on the basis of their religion or whatever doesn't -- it doesn't belong in this country. It's not what we do, it's not our tradition," said Barry Broad of the Jewish Community Relations Council.

He added that the swastika was backward, "so he's a particularly dumb Nazi sympathizer, or whatever he is."

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

An Israeli athlete who plays for an American team is the victim of a hate crime. I can't wait to see Gator's comment.

**noonwitch** · 09-20-2010, 01:19 PM

If the perps were teens, the combined reward offer by the NBA and the ADL should be enough motivation for somebody to rat out his or her buddies.

If the perps were actual american nazis or klansmen, well, they're in it for their sick goals, not for a reward.