Parents Outraged By Fire, Swastikas at Fort Lauderdale Daycare

Parents who arrived at a Fort Lauderdale day care center expressed shock and outrage after learning vandals set fires and spray-painted swastikas at the center over the weekend.

Almost 50 parents expected to drop off their kids at Little Leapers Childcare at 1300 Riverland Road Monday, but were shocked to find it closed due to the vandalism.

Sunday morning, owners discovered three red swastikas, shattered windows and other parts of the building, which serves as a church on weekends, charred and blackened as the result of fire.

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“If they can do something like this, they don't have a heart,” said a parent, Rose Ellis. “They could've done it while the kids were there.”

Parents were forced to make other arrangements and had to figure out ways to explain to their children what had happened.

"I was about to go to work and then drop my son and then now I know I have to call my job to let them know I'm gonna be late." parent Marie Etienne said.

In addition to the vandalism, owners say cameras, music equipment and TVs used to live stream sermons were stolen.

Owner Bishop Ivory Wilson said he has been in business for five years. Wilson said he is determined to re-open and stay.

“I just believe God sent us here, and we’re not going to run. We’re just not going to run, man,” he said. “This stuff right here, whatever game they’re playing, doesn’t frighten me.”

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Ellis said she has a message for whoever targeted the center.

"God is gonna get them," she said. God is gonna get them." 
 

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