(JTA) — A 31-year-old man was arrested and charged with a hate crime for allegedly breaking a window and posting a swastika on a Chicago synagogue.
Stuart Wright was arrested Tuesday in connection with the vandalism at the Chicago Loop Synagogue over the weekend. The synagogue’s windows were smashed early Saturday morning and copies of swastikas were taped to its front doors.
Police said Wright was identified on a surveillance video that they had released to the public. In the video, a masked man is seen approaching the synagogue placing stickers on the door and smashing a window.
Wright was charged with one felony count of a hate crime.
On Wednesday, approximately 1,000 people came to the synagogue for “Love Thy Neighbor: An Interfaith Gathering Against Hate,” according to the Jewish United Fund of Chicago, which co-sponsored the event. Several local Christian clergy spoke at the gathering, and a number of political leaders attended, including U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Ill., and several Chicago aldermen, according to JUF.
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