3rd Swastika Found In Bergen County Town This Year

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A swastika was found etched into cement in the village of Ridgewood Monday — the third time the Nazi symbol has been found in the village this year.

Resident Steven Benson's daughters, ages 12 and 14, found the swastika etched into cement on North Van Dien Avenue on the west side of the street just north of Beverly Road.

"As residents of Ridgewood, and as Jews, we find this very upsetting," Benson said. "We hope and believe action will be taken promptly to a rectify this."

Mayor Susan Knudsen said that the "hateful symbol" would be removed immediately. Police Chief Jacqueline Luthcke could not be immediately be reached for comment.

This is the third swastika found in the village this year.

One was found in March and quickly removed by village workers, NorthJersey.com reported.

Another was found painted on a wall on Shelton Road in May. It was also removed.

Knudsen said after the second swastika was found that the idea of any hate symbol in the village "is deplorable and will not be tolerated," NorthJersey.com repored.

"We will not be silent in the face of a symbol that represents the Nazi's who killed 6 million of our religion, and millions of others," Benson said.

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Photo: The swastika Benson's daughters found while walking on North Van Dien Avenue/Courtesy of Steven Benson