London, Ont. man charged with hate crime over swastika drawn in parking lot
London Police Service charged Gordon Botaitis, 56, with an offence motivated by hatred after a swastika was drawn in a parking lot near mostly Jewish student housing. Accounts differ on how it was made, and Jewish groups and a student's father have responded publicly.
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The story, neutrally told
Right · 2London Police Service in London, Ontario, charged Gordon Botaitis, 56, of London, with a hate crime over a swastika-like symbol allegedly made in a parking lot where he was doing construction work. JNSR “Gordon Botaitis, of London, Ontario, was charged with a hate crime after he allegedly used a pressure washer” Read at JNS ↗ National PostRC “A 56-year-old London resident identified by police as Gordon Botaitis was arrested on Oct. 23 and charged with one count of offence motivated by hatred.” Read at National Post ↗ Right · 2Police said nearby residents gave them photos and videos of the incident, and a man who was "completing construction work" in the city is said to have used equipment to create what appeared to be the Nazi symbol. National PostRC “Police said they were told that a man who was “completing construction work” in the city used equipment to create what appeared to be the Nazi symbol.” Read at National Post ↗ JNSR “Residents nearby captured video of the 56-year-old’s alleged actions.” Read at JNS ↗ Right · 2JNS reported that the symbol was made with a pressure washer in gravel. The National Post reported that video shows a man spraying liquid on pavement, and that a joint statement from local Jewish groups said the swastika was drawn in gasoline. JNSR “allegedly used a pressure washer to make a symbol like a Nazi swastika in the gravel of a parking lot” Read at JNS ↗ National PostRC “The swastika was drawn in gasoline, according to a joint statement by local Jewish groups.” Read at National Post ↗
Right · 2The lot belongs to off-campus housing for mostly Jewish students in downtown London. JNS attributed the location near Jewish student housing to the watchdog HonestReporting Canada. National PostRC “The incident occurred in the parking lot of off-campus housing for mostly Jewish students in downtown London.” Read at National Post ↗ JNSR “HonestReporting Canada, a watchdog, said that it took place near Jewish student housing.” Read at JNS ↗ Right · 1Botaitis was released from custody and is due in court on Jan. 18. JNSR “Botaitis was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 18.” Read at JNS ↗ Right · 1London police said "Hate has no place in our city" and that any incident believed to be motivated by hate will be taken seriously and thoroughly investigated. JNSR ““Any incident believed to be motivated by hate will be taken seriously and thoroughly investigated.”” Read at JNS ↗
Right · 1Local Jewish groups said Chabad at Western's rabbis arrived within minutes and contacted police and the hate crime unit, which they said contributed to a swift police response. National PostRC ““Chabad at Western’s Rabbis arrived on the scene within minutes to support Jewish students and ensure they felt safe and cared for,”” Read at National Post ↗ Right · 1The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) called the act antisemitic and an "attack on the inclusive, democratic values that all Canadians share". It commended police for acting quickly, called for consistent enforcement nationwide, and urged authorities to confront "radicalization spreading across our campuses". National PostRC ““attack on the inclusive, democratic values that all Canadians share.””““We urge authorities at all levels to confront the radicalization spreading across our campuses and throughout the country” Read at National Post ↗ Right · 1Darren Slavens, whose two daughters attend Western University and live nearby, said they responded with "courage and pride". He first believed the swastika was in their front yard but later learned it was drawn next door. National PostRC ““Instead of fear and intimidation, these kids have responded with courage and pride”“He told National Post that he later learned that it was drawn next door.” Read at National Post ↗
Right · 1Slavens also said he holds universities responsible for allowing what he called "the lie of genocide, the lie of apartheid" and Free Palestine movements to flourish on campus. Western University did not immediately respond to the National Post's request for comment. National PostRC ““I still hold the university and universities across this country responsible.”“Western University did not immediately respond to National Post’s request for comment.” Read at National Post ↗ Right · 2Both outlets placed the incident in a wider context of antisemitism. JNS cited a May warning from B'nai Brith Canada that 2026 was on pace to be the most violent year for Canadian Jews. The National Post listed September incidents in Ontario, including a shooting at a Belleville synagogue on Yom Kippur that left a police officer in critical condition. JNSR “In May, B’nai Brith Canada warned that 2026 was on pace to become the most violent year for Canadian Jews.” Read at JNS ↗ National PostRC “including a shooting at a Belleville synagogue on Yom Kippur that left a police officer in critical condition.” Read at National Post ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- JNS gave a brief police-sourced report of the charge. The National Post focused on the response of Jewish students' families and advocacy groups, and tied it to campus antisemitism.
- Emphasis
- Police statements, Jewish community reaction, and antisemitism in Canada during 2026.
- Leaves out or plays down
- JNS gave no detail from Jewish groups' statements. Neither outlet had a comment from Botaitis, and the National Post had none from Western University.
- Charged language
- “Nazi swastika”“Jew hate”“warriors”
- For example
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“In May, B’nai Brith Canada warned that 2026 was on pace to become the most violent year for Canadian Jews.” — JNS
““These kids are warriors… Instead of fear and intimidation, these kids have responded with courage and pride” — National Post
What every side reports
- Gordon Botaitis, 56, of London, Ontario, was charged by London Police Service over an alleged swastika drawn in a parking lot.
- He was allegedly doing construction work at the site, and nearby residents recorded the incident.
- The location is linked to housing for Jewish students.
Where accounts differ
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How the symbol was made
- Right
- JNS said a pressure washer was used to make the symbol in gravel. The National Post said video shows a man spraying liquid on pavement, and a Jewish groups' statement said the liquid was gasoline.
London Police Service organisation
Says hate has no place in the city, that it is committed to community safety, and that hate-motivated incidents will be investigated seriously.
““Everyone deserves to feel safe and respected in our city,” London police stated.” — JNS
Gordon Botaitis person
Charged with one count of offence motivated by hatred, and the allegations are unproven. No statement from him appears in the coverage.
“charged with one count of offence motivated by hatred.” — National Post
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
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JNSR ·
Neutral Short report built on the police statement, with context from advocacy groups.
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Sympathetic Centres a father's and Jewish groups' reaction and links the incident to campus antisemitism.
- 26 Oct 14:47 First JNSR Ontario construction worker charged with hate crime for allegedly drawing Nazi swastika in parking lot
- 26 Oct 18:26 +3h 39m National PostRC Father of Jewish students in London, Ont. says daughters won’t give into fear after swastika drawn near home
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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