Hoax Confirmed: The Chesed Shel Emeth Jewish Cemetery (2018)

In 2018 I wrote about the so-called ‘anti-Semitic hate crime’ that occurred at the Chesed Shel Emeth Jewish cemetery in St. Louis. I pointed out that this was likely a hoax and – if it had happened at all – then it was likely nothing to do with ‘anti-Semitism’ but rather homeless people or drug users.

It is therefore gratifying to note that I have been proved right once again.

To quote the Times of Israel:

‘A US man from suburban St. Louis has been arrested for toppling more than 100 headstones at a local Jewish cemetery more than a year ago.

Alzado Harris, 34, was arrested on Tuesday after police matched DNA found in a jacket left at the scene of the February 2017 vandalism to Harris, who has a prior criminal history. After his arrest at his home, Harris confessed to the vandalism at the Chesed Shel Emeth Jewish cemetery, the St. Louis Dispatch reported.

Harris faces up to seven years in prison on the charge of one count of institutional vandalism. He is not charged with a bias or hate crime.

“There is no evidence to indicate the incident was racially, ethnically or religiously motivated,” University City police said in a statement. According to the police statement, Harris said that “he acted alone, was angry over a personal matter and was under the influence of drugs when he committed the offense.”’ (2)

Scratch another ‘anti-Semitic hate crime’ hoax.

References

(1) https://www.timesofisrael.com/man-admits-toppling-more-than-100-headstones-in-st-louis-jewish-cemetery/