Cuomo Directs NYSP To Investigate Swastikas Carved In Rockland

NYACK, NY — Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has directed the state police hate crimes task force to investigate swastikas that were carved into a bathroom door in a Starbucks in Nyack.

He said in a statement that he is directing the task force to assist local authorities in the investigation and to punish those responsible to the fullest extent of the law.

"In New York we have absolutely zero tolerance for such abhorrent symbols, which are designed to intimidate and sow division and are part of the cancer of hate that has infected the nation's body politic in recent years," Cuomo said.

"Anti-semitism and hate in all its forms are repugnant to New York's values of inclusion, diversity and acceptance, and we will continue to call out cowardly acts of hate whenever and wherever we see them," he said.

The Rockland is One Facebook page posted a photo Sunday of a swastika it said was from the Nyack Starbucks.

Rockland County Executive Ed Day commented on Facebook Monday that he condemned the anti-semitic incident reported on social media to have occurred at the Starbucks.

"This type of hate has no place in our county and those who engage in this criminal activity should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," Day said.

He said that his human rights commissioner told him that no one had reported the incident to the police.

"Worse yet, we confirmed with law enforcement that this happened approximately three weeks ago, was still up in the bathroom today (Monday) and Starbucks either did not see it or simply did not report it," Day said.

He said the police are awaiting a report from Starbucks which is forthcoming.

Bailey Adkins, a spokesperson for Starbucks, told Patch that law enforcement was engaged concerning the incident, and the company fully supports the state's investigation of the matter.

"Hatred and discrimination of any kind are not welcome in our stores. This was a reprehensible act of vandalism and we join the community in condemning this incident," she said.

The incident comes in the wake of a video from the county GOP that was condemned by state and local officials for its anti-semitic tone.

SEE ALSO:

• County GOP's "Storm" Video Unleashes Political Firestorm
• Rockland Leaders Grapple With Development, Anti-Semitism

EDITOR'S NOTE: The original article was updated to include a statement from Starbucks.