Anti-Jewish graffiti around Lake Merritt is under investigation

"The reason we focused on this particular set of incidents is it started at a school, which is really unacceptable and horrifying. Now they're perpetrating it in the public sphere. That tells [people] that Lake Merritt is the place they can go and commit hate crimes - this time against the Jewish community, but really against anybody - with no consequences."

"Zoe Levine, a member of the advocacy organization Oakland Jewish Alliance, paints over graffiti at the lake through the city's Adopt-a-Spot program. She told The Oaklandside she's removed numerous incidents of antisemitic graffiti, but the recent spate has stood out. Her group believes these messages were written by the same person, since they use a similar lettering style and language."

Antisemitic graffiti has been repeatedly spray-painted around Lake Merritt in Oakland, including messages at a charter school in October 2025 and multiple incidents along the pedestrian bridge in January and February. The Oakland Jewish Alliance, formed after the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, has been removing these messages through the city's Adopt-a-Spot program. Members believe the incidents are connected based on similar lettering and language patterns. Despite reporting to Oakland Police Department and Oakland Public Works, no arrests have been made. Community advocates express concern that the lack of consequences sends a message that hate crimes can be committed at Lake Merritt without accountability.

Read at The Oaklandside