Union Station in D.C. vandalized with drawings of swastikas, suspect arrested

Washington, D.C. police have arrested a suspect that may be connected to the vandalizations at Union Station. Drawings of swastikas appeared around the entrance of the Union Station in Washington, D.C. on Friday morning.

Police have arrested Gerald Pando (34) and charged him with “display of certain emblems and defacing private/public property.” The police say Pando allegedly spray-painted the swastikas around 12:45 a.m. Friday morning, along with vandalizing three other buildings (Axios).

Amtrak spokesperson, Kimberly Woods, said in a statement, “An investigation is underway with the Amtrak Police and the Metropolitan Police Department after swastikas were reported on the exterior of Washington Union Station on Friday.”

She continued, “Amtrak strongly condemns this hatred and will work with our landlord, USRC and their lessor to remove these symbols as quickly as possible.” The vandalism came one day after the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, during which President Biden warned against ignoring history and against a “resurgence of antisemititsm.”

Senator Bob Menedez (D-NJ) tweeted about the vandalism, “Sickening. Yesterday was Holocaust Remembrance Day. My staff just sent me this video of Union Station defaced with swastikas. Anti-Semitism is real and we cannot tolerate it. I am contacting the local authorities.”