An Arizona doctor and his wife, along with another individual, were arrested for allegedly scratching derogatory phrases onto cars belonging to demonstrators at a pro-Palestine protest in January. Matthew Karlovsky, Lisa Karlovsky, and Bryan Long were charged with criminal damage for keying the cars during the incident, which took place near a synagogue where a fundraising event for the Anti-Defamation League was being held. Surveillance footage showed Matthew Karlovsky acting as a lookout as the trio drove to the protest with the intent to damage protesters’ vehicles.
Protest organizers and community members gathered in front of the synagogue to raise awareness of the visit of Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt and to protest his message. The protest was initially peaceful, but tensions rose after attendees of the ADL event began disrupting and making inappropriate gestures. Despite heavy police presence during and after the protest, the vandalism occurred without intervention. Protesters discovered defamatory hate speech scratched onto their vehicles, including phrases like “murderer,” “baby killer,” and “rapist,” as well as Stars of David.
Long confessed to using a screwdriver to damage a Subaru and witnessed Lisa Karlovsky damaging approximately ten cars during the protest. Lisa, who previously served as chapter chair of the Arizona Republican Jewish Coalition, was described as “out of control” and allegedly spat towards Palestinian supporters as they left the protest. The Anti-Defamation League denied any involvement in the vandalism and condemned the hate speech engraved onto the cars. The vandalism caused about $100,000 in damages, according to police estimates.
The Arizona Palestine Solidarity Alliance issued a statement calling the vandalism a hate crime and condemning the use of the Star of David as a hate symbol. Jewish and Palestinian community members organized the protest to raise awareness and discredit Jonathan Greenblatt’s message, with the intention of a peaceful demonstration. However, tensions escalated as ADL event attendees disrupted the protest, leading to the derogatory phrases and symbols being scratched onto the cars. Police surveillance footage showed Matthew Karlovsky as a lookout during the vandalism, indicating premeditated intent.
The incident has sparked outrage among the Jewish and Palestinian communities, with organizers and supporters condemning the actions of the perpetrators. Despite the peaceful nature of the protest, the disruption caused by attendees of the ADL event led to confrontations and vandalism. The community has called for justice and accountability for those involved in the vandalism, urging law enforcement to take action against the perpetrators. The damage caused to the vehicles during the protest has highlighted the ongoing tensions and conflicts surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the United States.
Investigators are continuing to gather evidence and statements related to the incident, with the goal of holding those responsible accountable for their actions. The arrest of the individuals involved in the vandalism has brought attention to the issues of hate speech, religious symbolism, and community tensions within the context of political activism. The community remains divided over the actions of the perpetrators and the underlying motivations behind the vandalism, raising questions about the need for dialogue and understanding between different groups with conflicting viewpoints on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
