Tourist from Germany publicly addresses offensive note on Miami Beach bench
German tourists Gunther Manfred Jekschtat, 63, and Christoph Rehak, 58, were arrested in Miami Beach on criminal mischief charges after graffiti was found on an LGBTQIA+ bench at Lummus Park near 12th Street and Ocean Drive. The vandalism, which displayed a swastika and the phrase “Adolf was here,” was discovered on a Monday. Surveillance footage showed Rehak holding a marker while the pair sat on the bench; Jekschtat later admitted shielding him from witnesses.
Both men have been released on bond and remain charged with criminal mischief. Court filings indicate they will be prohibited from exiting the United States without court permission, and their next appearance is scheduled for May 28. The bench has been removed for repairs, and authorities have ordered the men to avoid the 12th Street/Ocean Drive area.
Mayor Steven Meiner condemned the act as “horrific” and emphasized that hate, bigotry, racism, and antisemitism have no place in the city. Jekschtat, upon exiting jail, apologized publicly and stressed that neither he nor Rehak identifies as Nazi. Rehak declined to comment after his release.