Community Denounces Swastikas Found in Metro Atlanta Neighborhoods

ATLANTA, GA — Community leaders and residents across metro Atlanta are condemning acts of hate after multiple swastikas were discovered spray-painted in public spaces over the past week in Roswell, Sandy Springs and the city of Atlanta.

The black swastikas were reported on a hiking trail in Roswell on Dec. 22, at the corner of Drewry and Frederica streets in Atlanta’s Virginia-Highland neighborhood on Dec. 23, and more recently on an overpass in Sandy Springs. Authorities are now investigating the incidents.

In a video shared online, Pastor Brian L. Webb described discovering three swastikas while hiking along the Vickery Creek Trail in the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, which is operated by the National Park Service.

“To see that symbol and the history of that symbol, and what it really represents and means, my stomach began to turn, and I was fully disgusted,” Webb said. “Very angry that someone so brazenly would put such symbols on a path to send a message of intimidation.”

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) identifies the swastika as a notorious symbol of hate tied to antisemitism, white supremacy and Nazism.

Local advocates say the vandalism has shaken neighborhoods known for their sense of safety and inclusion. “It breaks my heart to share that our beautiful Virginia-Highland neighborhood has been marred by hateful symbols,” Georgia Solidarity Network Executive Director Karen Isenberg Jones wrote in a Facebook post. “This vibrant community, known for its joy and safety, should never have to bear such darkness.”

Jones urged residents to stand together in response. “Let’s come together to reject this hatred. Our voices are powerful, and we must stand united against these acts that threaten the spirit of our community. Love and acceptance will always prevail over hate,” she wrote.

State Rep. Esther Panitch, who represents Georgia House District 51 and is the state’s first Jewish legislator, said she has been in contact with an Atlanta Police Department detective investigating the vandalism in the city.

Panitch also highlighted Webb’s discovery in Roswell and encouraged the public to help identify those responsible. She asked anyone with information to contact Atlanta Police Detective R.C. Sluss or share photos on social media. “If you don’t want to post your info, please DM me,” Panitch said.

In a statement, the ADL thanked Webb and other community leaders for speaking out, noting the incidents come amid a rise in antisemitic acts nationally and worldwide.

Residents and officials alike emphasized that while the symbols were meant to intimidate, the community’s response has been one of unity, vigilance and a renewed commitment to confronting hate wherever it appears.