Police in Lexington, Ky., are searching for a man they say allegedly shouted a nti-Semitic remarks and ran a person over with his car during a Hanukkah celebration at Jewish Student Center in the city on Saturday night.
Members of Chabad of the Bluegrass were gathered outside the center for the annual lighting of the menorah when a man pulled up in a vehicle, nearly hitting a volunteer camera crew, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported. Police say the man attacked one person in the crowd, grabbing and dragging him briefly underneath his car before speeding away.
The victim was taken to a local hospital and treated for nonlife-threatening injuries.
“Before he left for the hospital, the newest hero of Chanukah insisted we light the Menorah, and not allow darkness to quench our light,” the Chabad said in a Facebook post about the incident. “Tonight’s lighting was centered around standing up to hatred, following the antisemitic attack. … The fact that this event to was marred by violence is horrifying, but through it all our Menorah has stayed lit.”
The attack was condemned by several local leaders over the weekend.
“The anti-Semitic attack reported Saturday night outside of the Jewish Student Center is an outrage,” Gov. Andy Beshear (D) said on Twitter. “This hate has absolutely no place in the commonwealth as we build a better Kentucky that is fair and equitable for all of our people.”
Lexington’s mayor vowed to bring the suspect in the attack to justice.
“Racism and religious persecution have no place here,” Mayor Linda Gorton said on Twitter. “Those who violated the law will be prosecuted. Let’s join in the spirit of Chanukah, a celebration of good over evil.”
An investigation into the incident remains ongoing.