Oakland's Lake Merritt menorah destroyed, vandalized with anti-Semitic graffiti

Police in Oakland are investigating a destructive act of vandalism at Lake Merritt’s large public menorah that left the Hanukkah candelabrum in pieces and hateful anti-Semitic graffiti where the menorah stood.

Officers were sent to the area of 12th Street and Lake Merritt Boulevard at about 1:30 a.m. after someone called about the vandalism, according to police.

Photos and video provided by the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of the Bay Area showed the menorah was completely dismantled with pieces strewn around the area where it had been erected by Lake Merritt. There was also profane, anti-Semitic graffiti written on the stand where the menorah had stood.