Racist, Anti-Semitic Graffiti Found At Nassau County Park

Town of Hempstead Supervisor Anthony Santino, joined by Sen. Todd Kaminsky, called on the public to help police identify whomever drew racist and anti-Semitic graffiti at Baldwin Park, which was discovered by town workers on Wednesday.

At a press conference, Santino said that the town is working with the Nassau County Police Department to identify whomever drew the graffiti, and intends to prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.

"Acts of hate have no place in our society, and my administration won’t tolerate hate-fueled graffiti or any other inappropriate activities at town facilities," said Santino. "Our government will work collaboratively with law enforcement to bring those responsible to justice. What’s more, we will prosecute the vandals who defaced town property to the fullest extent of the law."

The graffiti included swastikas, a hateful term used to refer to African-Americans, as well as other offensive defacement of the equipment. The graffiti appears to have been drawn with permanent marker, and the vandalism was reported to law enforcement authorities by town staff on Wednesday.

Santino and Kaminsky said that the graffiti found at Baldwin Park should be investigated as a hate crime under the state’s penal law, since it appears to have been motivated by bias. What’s more, the graffiti clearly targets specific groups of people because of race and religious practice. Similar acts have been pursued as aggravated harassment in the first degree under the hate crimes statute.

Calling on the public for assistance, the officials asked anyone has any information relating to the vandalism to please call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS.

"My wife was horrified when she brought our son, Rafe, to Baldwin Park and they were confronted by swastikas and other racist, anti-Semitic, and hateful graffiti," Kaminsky said. "The fact that intolerant bigots would expose our children to such hatred is despicable. We must show that our love for community is stronger than hate mongers’ attempts to install fear where we live and play. We must stand together for love and tolerance and I look forward to continue working with the Town of Hempstead to stamp out hate."

Photo: Town of Hempstead