Swastika Drawn On Progressive Upper West Side Church, Police Say

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — The NYPD is investigating the vandalism of an Upper West Side church with the image of a swastika, a department spokesman told Patch.

The Church of St. Paul & St. Andrew, located at 263 W. 86th Street near West End Avenue, was hit by vandals Wednesday night, police told Patch. A swastika was drawn with a black felt-tipped pen on a wall of the church near its south entrance, an NYPD spokesman said.

The act of vandalism occurred the same night members of the progressive methodist church attended an interfaith gathering of solidarity in the neighborhood.

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This isn't the first time this year that an Upper West Side church was vandalized with swastika imagery. In March, two swastikas were carved into the wooden doors of the Fourth Universalist Society — the church that hosted Wednesday's interfaith gathering.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio denounced the vandalism on Twitter Friday, saying "hate will not be tolerated in New York City," and urging people with information to contact the police.

Patch has reached out to a pastor at the church and will update this article if we hear back.

Photo by Google Maps street view.