Defaced Gershon Campaign Signs Elicit Outrage

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — With the midterm election almost a week away, residents were outraged Monday to see that campaign signs for candidate Perry Gershon, a businessman and Democrat who is facing off against incumbent Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin in the 1st Congressional District race, had been defaced.

On the signs were written the words "Baby Killer" and "Gay Lover."

The signs incited outrage, especially as they were discovered so soon after Saturday's horrific synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh.

"Hate mongering has no place in America, especially in political campaigns. The conversation with voters should be about ideas for improving their lives. I am proud to stand with women in fighting for the right to let them choose what is best for their own bodies, and I am proud to stand with the LGBTQ community in fighting for equality," Gershon said. "This is a nonpartisan, human issue. Toning down incivility is the only constructive path forward for Long Island and the country. I encourage Lee Zeldin to join me in condemning hate-based violence, intolerance, and related vandalism, wherever it occurs, and whomever perpetrates it."

Chris Boyle, a spokesman for Zeldin's campaign, responded: "No idea who did this, but they should stop immediately. We have also been dealing for several weeks with Zeldin for Congress signs being defaced and stolen from private property. On top of the worst crazy, unhinged things being said on social media now as well, we are reminded how there is absolutely no place for any of this now or in the future. Political violence and hate have no place in our political discourse. Whether it is defacing political signs, or assaulting people with opinions different than your own, scores need to be settled at the ballot box, not with hate and violence. Whoever is responsible needs to be held accountable."

Zeldin's supporters have alleged a staffer for Gershon "assaulted"a college student recently; Gershon's camp said Zeldin had "trackers" following Gershon and his family around.

The defaced campaign signs caused residents to speak out: "It's gross, especially given the last week of events. It is one thing to disagree with someone's political ideology. It is entirely different to feel emboldened by political rhetoric to justify and act on your hateful thoughts. If a candidate or elected official is benefitting from these actions, but not denouncing the acts and working to change the dialogue, then they are a major part of the problem," said Lisa Votino-Tarrant of Southampton.

Robert, who declined to give his last name, said he saw numerous signs in the Patchogue area on Sunrise Highway, heading westbound, as well as on the guard rails on Nichols Rd. near Stony Brook University. "Signs have been stolen in the last few weeks and these all popped up last night. This must have been what they were being stolen for. I think this is terrible and really shows what kind of people Lee has supporting him," he told Patch.

Maria Mezzatesta of East Patchogue saw one of the signs on South Country Road: "I backtracked to take a picture just as the homeowner was putting it in the trash," she said. "He said it wasn’t his sign and that someone put it there last night."

She added that there was another defaced sign heading west a quarter of a mile from the first sign, and that she'd heard that the same signs were found on Sunrise Hwy. and on Nichols Rd. "All had the same white stenciled message. All were put up sometime after dark last night/or early morning," she said. "The mean-spiritedness is just so disturbing."

Patch photo courtesy Maria Mezzatesta.