NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A search is underway for two individuals who spray-painted swastikas and hateful messages onto five homes in Sylvan Park.
Metro Police released Ring doorbell footage on Twitter from one of the residences where the individuals can be seen spray-painting the messages on Sunday.
Police say the incident took place early Sunday morning.
BREAKING: These two individuals are suspected of spray painting swastikas and hate messages on 5 homes in the Sylvan Park area early today. Know who they may be? Please 📞 615-742-7463. Specialized Investigations Division detectives are leading this investigation. pic.twitter.com/mZ67Xioybs
— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) March 19, 2023
It was a shocking sight, that neighbors in Sylvan Park, said they were disheartened to see.
"It was horrifying. I was sick to my stomach. I wanted to cry," Barbara Dab, with the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville, said.
Emotions and feelings that were shared throughout the community.
Oscar Anderson and his wife recently moved in to their new home and expected a relaxing weekend.
"We just like everyone else wanted to enjoy our Sunday with friends and family and watch some March Madness," he said.
But, upon realizing the severity of what happened, they organized a community cleanup in an effort to denounce the hurtful rhetoric.
#HAPPENINGNOW: Community members in Sylvan Park are coming together to help remove the hateful graffiti two individuals spray painted on homes early this morning.
— Araceli Crescencio NC5 (@aracelireports) March 19, 2023
More tonigh @NC5! pic.twitter.com/rEDd6nPGm7
Very early they knew, they weren't alone.
"We just brought the supplies, the neighborhood is taking care of the rest," Anderson said.
While dozens of people helped remove the hateful graffiti, others painted messages urging love and peace.
Among those painting, Eco Patrick, who said his home was vandalized too.
"It was scary and finding out that more people had had it happened to them and it wasn't just a one-off thing was much worse," Patrick said.
Despite his young age, he understood, the meaning behind the gathering.
"It's really sweet... I love my community. And I knew the fact that it was really diverse, and it was really supportive, but just seeing it all come together is just really heartwarming," he said.
Members of the Jewish community said the hate has to stop, and worry that the violence in Nashville keeps escalating.
"We're calling on leadership to speak out and denounce these attacks. This is now something that's gone beyond flyers in people's driveways. This is trespassing, this is vandalism on people's homes," Dab said.
The investigation is ongoing and no further information is available at this time.
Anyone with information is asked to call 615-742-7463.
