The case of a father and son accused of removing a swastika mural from private property will be back in court next month, for a hearing on whether the matter should proceed as a felony charge.
Peter and Zechariah Mehler have been charged with felony criminal damage to property for tearing down a mural featuring a swastika and Star of David on a building owned by a Palestinian real estate businessman, who has been active locally in anti-Israel activities.
Their attorney has requested Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Jack Dávila to reconsider his decision to hold a trial against the men. Dávila, in turn, set an April 9 date to hear arguments regarding whether the crime rises to a felony and deserves to go to trial.
“We’ve reached out to the district attorney and the assistant district attorney and are giving them the opportunity to correct their error, having brought this to trial as a felony,” Zechariah Mehler said.
The mural and subsequent legal battle have come at a time when antisemitism is on the rise in the U.S. The legal case itself has stirred debate locally, viewed as a test of how the court system responds to the forced removal of free expression when it’s laced with apparent hate that can lead to violence.
A motion hearing before Judge Jack Dávila is scheduled for April 9.
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