Antisemitic symbols spray painted along a Lehigh Acres road stayed for weeks

Disturbing messages and symbols were spray-painted along a street in Lehigh Acres. Neighbors say the antisemitic symbols and messages were there for weeks.

On Friday, someone came by and cleaned up the mess. After WINK News reached out to Lee County officials, a truck came by and paved over the symbols.

Those who live nearby say they’re shocked to see such messages in their community. Not only is it quiet, but it’s also diverse.

A Lee County father was walking his dog with his children when they discovered the hate symbols painted on the road. That father didn’t feel comfortable appearing on camera but told WINK News what bothered him most about seeing those.

“That someone with that attitude would even be in this area,” he said.

While WINK News Anchor Justin Kase was there, a school bus drove right over the symbols. Another neighbor said one of the bus stops is just down the road from where those messages were written.

Gerald Reisdorf lives in the community. “I guess they maybe want to send a message. ‘What message?’ I don’t know. You know, to me, it’s childish,” Reisdorf said.

It remains unclear who put the symbols there, but neighbors said they first saw them in red paint. Then, a day or so later, someone painted over them in an attempt to cross out the antisemitic symbols.

“I’m old enough to know what the second world war is about… all of that stuff, you know. And I thought that was behind us,” Reisdorf said.

“If we don’t sit down and talk, it’s really going to be… just a prolonged issue,” that neighbor said. They didn’t want to be shown on camera.

Another person who lives in this quiet neighborhood says it starts with teaching people not to spew hate.