Holocaust Center Responds to Recent Hate Crimes

Written by Leah Bush

The Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County (HMTC) and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Long Island (JCRC-LI) responded Wednesday to recent incidents of a vandal drawing swastikas and racial slurs on cars in Long Island communities.

“The hate crimes in Bethpage and Holbrook serves as a reminder how important it is to be unified in our communities against acts of hate whenever it rears its ugly head. We need to reach out, educate and continue building relationships with each other,” HMTC Chairman Steven Markowitz said in a statement.

The incidents occurred between Sept. 17 and early Sept. 18. Fourteen parked cars in Bethpage were marked with swastikas in blue chalk in what police classified as a bias crime. The incidents appeared to be random. Read more here.

"Law enforcement is right to investigate these acts as hate crimes," said Francis X. Becker, Jr., Co-Chair, Nassau County Anti-Bias Crime Task Force. "People of the Jewish faith are valued and important members of our community. As Long Islanders, we stand firmly with them in condemning these cowardly, intentional acts of hatred whose purpose is to diminish the peace and freedom provided them under our Constitution.”   

JCRC-LI Chairman Arthur Katz added, “Long Island is a community of communities and hate crimes are a glaring example of why we need to increase interactions among communities. Greater communication will remove the fear of the unknown and promote a more civil society.”