A heinous act unfolded near the Lehrman Community Day School in Miami Beach when a teacher was violently assaulted, Slemons Graves, 38, stands accused of the attack, which included spitting, slapping, and the destruction of the victim’s cellphone, as reported by WSVN. The teacher, who was visibly Jewish due to a necklace adorned with a Star of David, was targeted in the vicious incident prompting outcry and condemnation from the community and local officials.
According to the CBS News Miami, Graves was taken into custody at approximately 11 a.m. shortly after the crime occurred, and he confessed to the brutal assault and the robbery, leading to his arrest and the subsequent charges of strong-arm robbery and battery with prejudice. The victim, after being assaulted as she made her way to school, sought refuge within the educational institution where the attack was immediately reported to authorities, and in the empathetic yet tormented words of Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner, the episode was described as “horrific.”
Emotions flared and concerns escalated among parents and residents, with a notable voice, professional sports agent Drew Rosenhaus, expressing deep distress at such hate happening in the community, an entire community shaken by this vile act of antisemitism right in their midst, these sentiments echoed by Miami Beach Commissioner David Suarez who, in an interview with WSVN, declared it “disgusting” and proclaimed a personal stake being Jewish himself…