MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — A German tourist accused of helping conceal anti-Semitic graffiti on a rainbow-colored bench in Miami Beach apologized Wednesday after bonding out of jail, telling Local 10 News, “Sorry for this.”
Gunther Manfred Jekschtat, 63, Laubach, Hesse, spoke exclusively to Local 10 News a day after he and fellow German tourist Christoph Rehak, 58, of Gedern, Hesse, were arrested on criminal mischief charges tied to the vandalism at Lummus Park.
Miami Beach police said the graffiti — which included a swastika and the phrase “Adolf was here” — was discovered Monday on an “LGBTQIA+ bench” near 12th Street and Ocean Drive.
As Jekschtat walked out of jail Wednesday, he stopped to answer questions from Local 10 News instead of avoiding cameras.
“I sit beside the other boy. I don’t know. I sit beside the other boy (who) wrote it down,” Jekschtat said.
When asked what he wanted to say to people offended by the graffiti, Jekschtat repeatedly apologized.
“Sorry, I can say sorry for this,” he said. “It’s not OK what they do, what we do. Sorry, sorry for this.”
Jekschtat also said, “It was a big mistake,” adding, “We are also no Nazi boys.”
Rehak, who bonded out Tuesday night, did not speak to Local 10 News and ran from cameras.
According to arrest reports, surveillance video showed Rehak borrowing a marker before the two men sat on the bench together. Police said Rehak wrote the graffiti while Jekschtat used his body to block others from seeing what was happening.
Investigators said both men later admitted involvement. Police said Rehak described the message as a “joke,” while Jekschtat said he was trying to “defend his friend.”
Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner condemned the vandalism, calling it “horrific” and saying there is “no place for hate, bigotry, racism, antisemitism in our city.”
The bench has since been removed for repairs.
Authorities said both men remain charged with criminal mischief and were ordered to stay away from the area of 12th Street and Ocean Drive.
While it was learned in court that they have both been in the U.S. for 3 1/2 weeks on vacation, they will now need permission from the judge to leave the country. Their next court date has been scheduled for May 28.
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