Swastika Found Painted At Sunshine Acres Park

COMMACK, NY — Suffolk police found a swastika drawn on the ground at Sunshine Acres Park in Commack on Aug. 31 around 10:30 a.m., they said.

No arrests have been made, but the crime is being investigated, police said.

Senator Jim Gaughran released a statement denouncing what happened:

"These vile symbols are representative of horrific acts of hatred from our darkest periods of history, and these symbols intend to stoke fear within our community. I am disturbed and outraged by the swastikas found painted at Sunshine Acres Park in Commack, a welcoming community known for its tolerance and acceptance. Hate must be singled out whenever and wherever we see it in our community. Hate has no place in 2019 and we must unify as a community against it."

Chad Lupinacci also condemned the use of the hate symbol:

"The swastika is symbol meant to threaten and intimidate and this demonstration of hate will not be tolerated in the Town of Huntington. Our Department of Public Safety is ramping up foot patrols at the park and I urge our residents to stay vigilant and report suspicious activity in our parks to the Department of Public Safety and suspected instances of hate to the Town’s Anti-Bias Task Force."

Lupinacci visited the park on Monday to be briefed by Director of General Services, Andre Sorrentino, whose staff temporarily painted over the graffiti with green paint on a paved path over the Labor Day holiday weekend until they would be able to permanently seal-coat the area.