A photo that circulated on social media shows a swastika on the Melrose Avenue building owned by Kanye West. (photo courtesy of Sam Yebri via Instagram  )

A swastika was discovered on the morning of March 23 on the side of a building at the northeast corner of Melrose and Laurel avenues owned by the rapper Ye, also known as Kanye West. West has faced criticism for antisemitic statements and selling clothing emblazoned with swastikas.

A check of the address with the Los Angeles County Assessor’s Office revealed that the property is owned by OXPAHA LLC, in care of Bianca Censori. OXPAHA, sometimes referred to in media reports as Ox Paha Inc., is a company formed by West and Censori, West’s wife.

A citizen called police around 7 a.m. on March 23 about the swastika on the building at 8025 Melrose Ave., and officers met with the caller at the scene, said Lt. Mark Ro, with the Los Angeles Police Department’s Wilshire Division. Officers took a report for a hate incident and located an individual who identified themselves as a representative of the owner. Ro said the property owner’s representative spoke with the person who called police, and the caller offered to immediately paint over the swastika. The lieutenant said the property owner’s representative agreed to it and the symbol was painted over, although it could still be seen under the new paint the following day.

Ro did not know who the property owner is and did not have the name of the representative. He said police are continuing to investigate the swastika as a hate incident and are trying to determine who painted the symbol. It appeared to be professionally painted as opposed to being spray-painted like graffiti.

The approximately 7,400-square-foot building at Melrose and Laurel avenues is under construction, and the open interior can be seen through exterior walls surrounding the site. The Los Angeles Department of City Planning stated there is currently no project under review at 8025 Melrose Ave.

Members of the Jewish community condemned the incident, including the Anti-Defamation League-Los Angeles, which tracks hate crimes and incidents.

“ADL is aware that a swastika was discovered painted on a wall in the Melrose area of Los Angeles. This disturbing incident is part of a broader rise in antisemitic vandalism and rhetoric across the nation, threatening the safety and unity of our society,” ADL Los Angeles Regional Director Jeffrey I. Abrams said. “We must stand together against such hatred. If you see or experience similar acts, report them immediately to local authorities and to ADL. Silence enables hate, but collective action can help stop it.”

Attorney and former City Council candidate Sam Yebri reposted a photograph of the building on social media and denounced the incident.

“That swastika represents the very worst in human history,” Yebri said. “Angelenos should not accept and normalize such disgusting displays of antisemitism, especially in the heart of the Fairfax Jewish community.”

Anyone with information about the hate incident is urged to call the Wilshire Division at (213)922-8205 or (213)473-0476.