A swastika, the Nazi symbol recognized for its use in messages of hate, was found this morning on the street in front of a New City community leader's home.
Steve Gold said a neighbor was the first to spot the swastika painted on Lady Godiva Way in the Camelot development, located between Route 304 and Congers Road in New City.
The incident comes just weeks before Gold, and his wife Helene, are being honored by the Rockland Holocaust Museum & Study Center at its Annual Benefit Brunch, where they are scheduled to receive the Leadership Award on Oct. 21 at the Crowne Plaza in Montebello.
Clarkstown police said it is unknown whether this incident is a random act or a targeted act. The incident is being investigated as a hate crime and anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Clarkstown Police Department at 845-639-5800 or the anonymous Tips Line at 877-639-6233.
Police said an asterisk symbol was also painted nearby on a manhole cover in the same blue spraypaint.
The incident quickly prompted angry reaction:
“I am outraged by anti-Semitic vandalism in New City near the home of a prominent member of the Jewish community whose parents survived the Holocaust," said U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey, D-Rockland/Westchester. “I know Clarkstown Police Department will investigate this crime and hold accountable anyone who would deface public roads with such a symbol of hate.
“This shocking act is another reminder that even in the most diverse and educated areas of the country, the scourge of intolerance and anti-Semitism must be erased," Lowey said. "All members of our community have a responsibility to reject intolerance and speak out against hate speech directed against individuals for no reason other than their religion.”
Steve Gold is a vice president of JCC Rockland in West Nyack. He chairs the Munich 11 Minute of Silence Campaign.
At a recent memorial to the Munich 11, Gold said, "By the International Olympic Committee saying no [to a moment of silence], they failed to inspire a new generation of combating anti-semitism."
As for the symbol not being oriented the "correct" way to be a swastika, we really can't tell how it was oriented since all we are seeing in this article is a photograph and we have no idea how it appeared outside the Gold family's house, so I would agree with the first hand assessment that it was, indeed, a swastika. And finally, to Amanda, just what did you mean by your comment to Vince? His comment was perfectly reasonable and the comment made to his daughter was beyond atrocious! Vince, I am so very sorry that your daughter (and you) was subjected to that, especially while she was away at school. I hope that she reported the other student to the administration at the school because at most schools that kind of hate speech is not tolerated and is actionable. Good luck everyone and let's STOP THE HATING NOW!
Victims of the Holocaust, other Jewish people and organizations, as well as caring and educated people are the ones who have kept the memory and the importance of this horrible tragedy alive and who have protested assaults such as this one. It is up to you to do likewise with those things that offend you; to bring your outrage to the forefront. No one else will do it for you, no one else did it for the Jews, indeed, we have had to fight off the Holocaust deniers at every turn of the calendar.