University City, MO – U.S. Vice President Mike Pence made an unannounced visit to at a Jewish cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri, on Wednesday and told clean-up volunteers, state officials and reporters that there was no place in America for hatred, violence, anti-Semitism or acts of prejudice.
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About 170 headstones were toppled or damaged at the century-old Chesed Shel Emeth Society cemetery over the weekend, according to cemetery staff.
Gov. Eric Greitens, who is Jewish, organized a volunteer effort to help in the cleanup Wednesday, and an interfaith service was planned for the afternoon. A large crowd attended a candlelight vigil at the cemetery Tuesday night.
Pence, speaking to small business, not long before making the unannounced visit, condemned “this vile act of vandalism and those who perpetrate it in the strongest possible terms.” But he lauded people from across Missouri who have “rallied with compassion and support.”
“You have inspired this nation,” Pence said.
With Greitens by his side, Pence told volunteers, many of them clutching yard rakes they used to beautify the graveyard, that “there’s no place in America for hatred or acts of prejudice or violence or anti-Semitism.”
“I must tell you the people in Missouri are inspiring the nation by your love and care for this place, for the Jewish community in Missouri,” he told the crowd, using a bullhorn. “And I want to thank you for that inspiration, for showing the world what America is all about.”
Greitens later told reporters at the cemetery that President Donald Trump had called him Wednesday morning and wanted to thank the volunteers.
Rosenbloom Monument Co. workers volunteered to put the toppled headstones back in place and by late Wednesday morning all but a few were restored.
Rosenbloom Monument owner Phil Weiss said eight to 10 headstones were broken, all of them made of marble. Most of the others were made of granite and sustained little or no damage, he said.
“Granite is pretty tough,” Weiss said.
The University City Council released a statement saying the city “is and always has been a community of inclusion— the people of University City will not tolerate hateful and hurtful acts.”
More than 3,000 people had donated $91,583 by late Wednesday afternoon. Cemetery staff declined comment on the fundraising.
After 8 years BH we finally have a friend in the White House.
I’m curious to know where the Trump haters on this site are now? I never saw Obama, Clinton, Bush #41 , Bush #43 , Reagan, or VP’s Chaney, Quayle, Mondale, visit a Jewish cemetery.
Good for him. That is they way you do it.
Thank you Mr pence. This gesture us greatly appreciated. Now, please have your administration tone down the rethoric , so the Jews don’t get blamed .
Never expect it from Obamzer the modern antisemite. #MAGA.
Thank you for showing your support! Finally normal people running this country. Still waiting for Muslim antisemite Obamzer to make a statement. Not. In a million years.
The VP stuck around quite a while, not just for the photop. He’s a real mentch and a very nice person.