Winnipeg man charged with antisemitic vandalism

Graffiti found on structures, objects, and fences in the neighborhood included antisemitic acronyms and symbols including Nazi swastikas.

 Winnipeg Friends of Israel share image of antisemitic graffiti, including a swastika, spray painted on a community center. January 4, 2025 (photo credit: SCREENSHOT/FACEBOOK/USED IN ACCORDANCE WITH CLAUSE 27A OF THE COPYRIGHT LAW)
Winnipeg Friends of Israel share image of antisemitic graffiti, including a swastika, spray painted on a community center. January 4, 2025
(photo credit: SCREENSHOT/FACEBOOK/USED IN ACCORDANCE WITH CLAUSE 27A OF THE COPYRIGHT LAW)

A Winnipeg man was charged for a spate of antisemitic vandalism in its Charleswood neighborhood over recent months, the Winnipeg Police Service.

Nevin Young, 19, was arrested at his home on Sunday and charged with 26 counts of mischief for involvement in graffiti across the Canadian neighborhood between the end of September and the end of December. He remains in police custody.

Graffiti found on structures, objects, and fences in the neighborhood included antisemitic acronyms and symbols, including swastikas.

Winnipeg police’s West District General Patrol, Community Support Units, and School Resource Section identified Young as a suspect after reviewing CCTV footage and speaking with owners of the defaced property.

 Someone wrote ‘JEWS KILL BABIES’ in Winnipeg.  (credit: B’nai Brith Canada)
Someone wrote ‘JEWS KILL BABIES’ in Winnipeg. (credit: B’nai Brith Canada)

Stand against antisemitism

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs on Tuesday thanked the police for their work and called on governments to empower law enforcement with more resources to better identify and hold perpetrators responsible.

“Neo-Nazi activity and antisemitic incitement in our province are designed to harm not only the Jewish community but also Manitobans from all backgrounds who value their safety and the well-being of our democracy,” said CIJA Manitoba and Saskatchewan vice president Gustavo Zentner.

“The radicalism we see growing on our streets and across Canada must not be allowed to take root. As Manitobans, we must not stand for it. As Canadians, we must not stand for it. Our governments must be held accountable for creating effective policies and programs to protect us from the harm these extremists are doing to our society.”

Nazi swastika graffiti in the city’s Charleswood area roused outrage among municipal and provincial leaders on January 3. The Westdale Community Centre was vandalized on December 31 in what Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham called a “blatant act of antisemitism.”

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew responded to the graffiti by urging all residents of the Canadian province to stand against antisemitism and all forms of hate.

“We must honor the survivors of the Holocaust,” Kinew said, “and live up to our global commitment of ‘Never Again’ by calling out those voices of hatred who use the images of that dark era in human history such as in this incident.”