Chicago, March 20, 2007 – The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today condemned the anti-Semitic vandalism of a stairwell outside Alderman Bernard Stone's West Rogers Park office that occurred over the weekend. Chicago Police are investigating the graffiti, which included slurs such as "Death to the Jews." The incident comes one week after the release of ADL's 2006 Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents, which showed that anti-Semitic incidents in Illinois nearly doubled last year.

"We decry this attempt to spread hatred and divide communities," said Lonnie Nasatir, Regional Director of ADL's Greater Chicago/Upper Midwest Region. "We are very concerned about the increasing willingness of some in our community to engage in anti-Semitic harassment and vandalism, as shown in the near doubling of such incidents in Illinois last year."

Nasatir offered ADL's assistance to Chicago Police and to the community.

"We appreciate the serious way that Chicago Police, Alderman Stone and his challenger Naisy Dolar are handling this incident," said Nasatir. "ADL is ready to assist in the investigation and to help the community come together to fight hate. We thank both candidates for not seeking to politicize this issue."

As a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, ADL does not endorse or otherwise support candidates for public office.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.