A former leader of the Los Angeles-area United Methodist Church was videotaped late last year writing what a Jewish woman said was a swastika on a box outside his door.
What are the details?
KCAL TV reported. Leah Grossman confronted her neighbor Mark Nakagawa on Dec. 5 at about 10:15 p.m., just seconds after he was videotaped bending over to write on her groceries. KCAL video report indicates Until last year, Mr. Nakagawa was listed as a pastor and senior leader at the United Methodist Church in Los Angeles.
Video of the confrontation between Mr. Grossman and Mr. Nakagawa shows him first appearing to deny what happened, then denying that the symbol is a swastika.
Grossman: “Is there a problem?”
Nakagawa: “what?”
Grossman: “Is there a problem?”
Nakagawa: “no.”
Grossman: “Is that a Nazi symbol?”
Nakagawa: “no.”
Grossman: “what is that?”
Nakagawa: “I’m just walking around here. I don’t understand.”
Grossman: “I saw you.”
Grossman: “I have a camera. Like, what is that? What did you draw there?”
Nakagawa: “I don’t know.”
KCAL spoke to Grossman, a single Jewish mother of two boys under the age of 12, who said she felt “broken” and “devastated” after the incident.
“I’ve never shaken like that before. My toes were shaking. I get emotional thinking about it, because I’ve lost all the people I know, my family, my children. Because it reminds me,” she told the TV station. tears.
Image source: YouTube screenshot
Grossman told KCAL that his confrontation with Nakagawa began at a homeowners association meeting after Nakagawa had flown an Israeli flag from his balcony after the deadly Oct. 7 Hamas raid. He pointed out that this happened shortly after he was accused of calling Nakagawa a fascist.
Image source: YouTube screenshot
“I think what’s going on in the world is really opening up a chasm of anti-Semitism and people are getting really emboldened to push Jews out,” Grossman added. “People shouldn’t run away like this.”
Image source: YouTube screenshot
“My judgment is poor.”
KCAL interviewed Nakagawa, and the station said he claimed Grossman called him. he Although a fascist, he did not deny writing symbols.
Nakagawa told KCAL that his intention in writing the symbol on the box outside Grossman’s front door was to educate Grossman about the symbol’s history as a Buddhist symbol of love. But the station said he repeatedly insisted he didn’t know how Grossman would react.
Image source: YouTube screenshot
KCAL reporter Laurie Perez did not buy the former UMC pastor’s explanation.
“You know how she feels about this,” Perez said, according to the station’s video report, which shows her confronting the incident herself. “You put a swastika on Jewish property, and it looks like you’re trying to intimidate them. And it’s a symbol of hate. It’s perceived as a symbol of hate.”
According to KCAL, Nakagawa initially denied that the symbol was a swastika, but Perez later criticized Nakagawa’s actions in a video released by the station, which included unknowingly stealing the victim’s belongings. That included trying to put up a symbol and denying to Grossman that he had done anything until Grossman told him to, the complaint said. She caught him on camera.
Mr. Peres later told Mr. Nakagawa that his actions toward Ms. Grossman on the night of Dec. 5 also could not easily be interpreted as an attempt to educate Jewish women about the origins of the symbol.
“In retrospect, my method was not something that could be implemented right away,” Nakagawa told KCAL. “My judgment was poor. I know that.”
The station’s video report added that Nakagawa will soon resign as HOA president and has tried to apologize to Grossman at least three times.
In a KCAL video report, police called the painting of the symbol a “hate incident,” but added that it was not a “hate crime” because there was no property damage.
The agency also said there is a movement to restore the swastika’s meaning as a sacred symbol by educating people about its origins.
Jewish woman says her neighbor drew swastikas on her belongingsyoutube.be
anything else?
UMC’s California Pacific Conference posted: message Nakagawa’s website on Monday said:
Our community was saddened to learn over the weekend of a December incident involving a retired clergyman and former district superintendent, Mark Nakagawa. California Pacific Annual Conference does not tolerate hatred or discrimination in any form. We love our neighbors, foster an inclusive and respectful environment for all, and are committed to fostering interfaith relationships within our communities.
Pastor Nakagawa will retire as an active pastor in July 2023, and is currently undergoing supervision proceedings regarding this incident.
February 2023 Conference announced Mr. Nakagawa will retire as West District Superintendent of Education on July 1, 2023.
Calling Nakagawa’s “joyful and generous spirit” a “blessing,” the Rev. Dottie Escobedo-Frank, resident bishop of the Los Angeles area, said in her retirement announcement that Nakagawa’s “joyful, generous spirit,” And I witnessed God’s mercy,” he added. people. “
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