Action News Now reported Lauren Cooper was live on the Vallombrosa Avenue Bridge where some of the graffiti turned up.
CHICO, Calif. – The Pro-Palestine graffiti that has been showing up around Chico is illegal but the message behind it is protected by free speech.
Chico Police aren’t considering this graffiti to be hate speech.
On the railing on Vallombrosa Avenue Bridge, it is tagged with “Free Palestine, Free Gaza and Smash Fascism” next to stickers asking for the end of Zionist Dream Litter.
Then on a bench in Upper Park, there is a message saying “Zionists believe in ethnic supremacy – Killing other people’s children is the point.”
Even though Chico Police aren’t considering this hate speech, others point out that it can still have dangerous consequences.
“It’s not antisemitic to advocate for Palestinian state but if it’s at the expense of the Jewish state, that’s where it’s anti-Semitic,” Katie Posey said.
Posey has a Ph.D. in genocide and holocaust studies and said since the beginning of the war, anti-Semitic incidences have shot through the rook.
“There’s this increase in advocating for indirectly a terrorist group which is not good so it’s a little bit concerning to me. I would rather we all sit down and talk about this and if we disagree we disagree but let’s do it in a safe way and an honorable and respectful way,” Posey said.
The Anti-Defamation League says anti-Semitic events have risen 400% since the start of the Israel-Hamas War.
While some people see these vandalisms as activism, Christy Collins with Chico Hillel sees it as violent.
“I feel like it’s a bit triggering because I associate it with violence. I feel like nowhere is safe and so we tend to just go inward and stay within our community,” Collins said.
“I think the one thing I’d like to make clear is that just because you’re Jewish doesn’t mean you align with the Israeli government,” Collins said.
Both Collins and Posey say they’d like to see the community gather civilly to talk about their ideas and differences of opinion rather than be tagged onto public property.
Anybody looking to report any type of graffiti can call the Chico Police Graffiti Hotline at 530-894-4200.