Vladimir Putin's Name Covered Up On 9/11 Memorial In NJ

BAYONNE, NJ — In a show of support for Ukraine, Bayonne officials this week covered up Russian President Vladimir Putin's name and signature on the 9/11 "Tear Drop" memorial at the former Military Ocean Terminal.

Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis said Putin's name will be covered "until further notice" given the country's ongoing attack on Ukraine.

"We remain grateful to the Russian people for the memorial. They did not start the war. Mr. Putin did," Davis said in a statement. "The memorial will stay in place on our waterfront. It is not going anywhere."

"To the Struggle Against World Terrorism" was created 17 years ago by Russian artist Zurab Tsereteli, NJ.com reported. Putin attended the groundbreaking for the memorial in 2005, according to city officials. He also spoke during the ceremony.

"You know that Russia, like America, has been struck by terrorist attacks on a number of occasions," Putin said in his speech, according to NJ.com. "This will be an impressive monument, but we should never forget that for all their impressive and grandiose nature, such monuments represent concrete individuals. (They represent) people who will always live on, not only in stone, not only in monuments, but in our hearts."

The Russian leader's name was covered by gaffer's tape, which on Monday was replaced with a more permanent acrylic board, NBC New York reported.

"It's definitely satisfaction, but I don't want to take away from the monument," Tom Cotter, Bayonne's Department of Public Works director, told NBC New York. "It’s unfortunate Putin’s name's on the monument, but I don’t want this to be a Putin thing. I still want this to be a 9/11 monument."