CBS News’ Los Angeles affiliate reported Sunday that the idyllic, celebrity-studded community of Pacific Palisades has been hit by a hate crime: eight local cars tagged with swastika graffiti.
In a bizarre twist, all of the cars were “Prii (the plural of the Prius, according to Toyota).” Eco-friendly cars like the Prius and Tesla Model S are status symbols in Pacific Palisades, which has a strong Organizing for Action chapter.
The Pacific Palisades, spread along the slopes of mountains facing the glittering Pacific Ocean, are described by local media as the home of “every other A-lister” in Hollywood. Local residents include Steven Spielberg, Goldie Hawn, Matt Damon, Tom Hanks, and other celebrities, many of whom are active in political and philanthropic causes. In 2012, every house listed on the local market was priced above $1 million.
The graffiti was in blue and gold paint, colors traditionally associated with decorations for the Jewish holiday of Chanukah (though the colors are also ubiquitous in West Los Angeles and are the official colors of nearby UCLA). This year, Chanukah falls early, and coincides with Thanksgiving later this week (instead of coinciding with the Christmas holiday, as it frequently does). Local residents are taking additional security precautions.
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