A shocking and sad incident took place this weekend.

Richard Chang of the Sacramento Bee reports.

Swastikas sprayed on Jewish fraternity building near UC Davis campus

Students at a UC Davis-affiliated Jewish fraternity house awoke Saturday morning to find two large swastikas spray painted onto their building.

Nathaniel Bernhard, vice president of the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity, said the vandalism took place between 3 and 9 a.m. Saturday. He condemned the action, saying the hate crime threatened to rekindle race tensions at UC Davis. The fraternity house is located off-campus.

“Jewish people still can’t feel safe on their own campuses and in their own houses,” Bernhard said. “Anti-Semitism still exists today. It’s not a fairy tale.”

Davis police are investigating the incident. Sgt. Trevor Edens said the swastikas were sprayed at the back of the building, including one near the entrance.

UC Davis Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi had harsh words for the perpetrators.

In a written statement, she called the behavior “repugnant and a gross violation of the values our university holds dear.”

“Nothing rivals a swastika as a more potent or offensive symbol of hatred and violence toward our Jewish community members,” Katehi said.