Vandalism at DC kosher restaurant not being investigated as a hate crime – NBC4 Washington

The vandalism of a kosher restaurant in D.C. is not being investigated as a hate or bias crime by the Metropolitan Police Department.

The front windows of Char Bar on L Street NW are boarded up after someone smashed them with two large rocks early Saturday morning, police said. The vandalism coincided with the 86th anniversary of Kristallnacht, also known as the Night of Broken Glass – a dark moment in history in which thousands of Jewish homes, businesses and places of worship were destroyed by German Nazis.

Saturday's police report originally indicated the crime was under investigation and may have been motivated by hate or bias. However, a police spokesperson told News4 on Sunday afternoon there was no evidence the act was motivated by hate or bias.

Owner Michael Chelst disagrees.

“It’s pretty clear this was a hate crime,” he said. “There are seven other places with glass windows on this street and none of them were attacked.”

He said the crime took a psychological toll.

“I feel sorry for the people in the restaurant and some of the guests that come in,” Chelst said. “It makes them a little more nervous to come.”

A police spokesman reiterated on Monday that the case could be reclassified if further evidence was found. The incident will be fully investigated using all department resources, regardless of the crime classification.

D.C. police's designation of a hate crime does not necessarily mean it will be prosecuted as a hate crime.

Guila Franklin Siegel of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington condemned the crime.

“For such an attack to occur on such a dark anniversary,” she said. “To see this happening in your own community is incredibly disturbing.”

The restaurant remains open and many customers said they stopped by to show their support.

“Our community is a product of its people, and I believe that it is through the actions of good-willed people — decent, good people who care about each other — that we preserve and strengthen our community,” Franklin Siegel said.

It does not appear the crime was captured on surveillance video, police said.

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