3 charged in anti-Semitic vandalism at Jewish summer camp

Marcy Oster

(JTA) — Three men were arrested and charged with vandalizing a Jewish summer camp in Michigan with painted swastikas.

Dakota Burnett, 20, and Xavier Mulac and Cody Emelander, both 18, all of South Haven, Michigan, where Camp Agudah Midwest is located, were arraigned Friday in Van Buren County District Court. They are charged with malicious destruction of property, Mlive.com reported.

They face up to a year in jail and more than $2,000 in fines if convicted.

In the July 26 incident, a swastika was spray-painted on a sign outside the overnight camp, which is affiliated with the haredi Orthodox Agudath Israel of America. The vandalism coincided with the fast day of Tisha b’Av, when Jews mourn the destruction of the ancient Temples in Jerusalem.

The vandals also damaged a building at the camp and spray-painted swastikas on a nearby picnic table and car.

In the aftermath of the incident, the camp said it hired a night security guard and stepped up security.

According to its Facebook page, the camp runs separate four-week sessions for girls completing grades 4-10 and boys completing grades 4-12.

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