The Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum is dismayed to learn of a recent crime involving antisemitic graffiti and hate speech in Dallas.

Not far from the Museum, in the heart of downtown Dallas, a 27-foot swastika was painted on the roof of the former Reunion Tower Garage along with the message “Rise up! We are everywhere.”

This happened in 2020 in our city, not in 1940 in Nazi Germany. More than a threatening message and a call for violence against Jews, it poses a threat to us all. If history is any kind of guide, this will not end here. The Nazis did not stop with the Jews, they also persecuted persons with disabilities, those they considered racially different from themselves, homosexuals, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and many others. In short, they sought to destroy what we hold dear, the diversity that makes up the rich tapestry of American life.

We are heartened that upon learning of this hate crime, Mayor Eric Johnson stated, “We will not tolerate this vile and hateful vandalism, nor will we be intimidated by it.” However, this is not simply our mayor’s problem, it is something which we as citizens of the city of Dallas, the state of Texas, and the incredible country in which we live must all stand up against.

As a Holocaust and human rights museum, we must speak out against antisemitism in all its forms. We are driven to do so by our mission to teach the history of the Holocaust and advance human rights to combat prejudice, hatred, and indifference.

And we wholeheartedly agree with Mayor Johnson’s statement: we will not be intimidated by hate speech or hate crimes.

To learn more about the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum, please visit DHHRM.org.

– Mary Pat Higgins, Museum President and CEO
– Frank Risch, Museum Board Chair