Holliswood, New York – After personally seeing hate graffiti at the site of the former Holliswood Hospital in his neighborhood this past weekend, Assemblyman David Weprin stood with Councilman Barry Grodenchik, Senator Leroy Comrie, religious leaders and civic groups from the Holliswood area to denounce the hateful vandalism found on the property. The racial and anti-Semitic graffiti consist of a KKK symbol on fencing surrounding the former hospital, swastikas on windows and additional markings inside the hospital with hateful language directed towards African-Americans.

Members of the community called for increased surveillance of the Holliswood area and additional lighting outside the hospital site. Weprin shared that the vandalism is being investigated by the NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force and the 107th Precinct.

“Vandalism is a crime in itself, but by adding a KKK symbol, swastikas and hateful language directed towards African-Americans, the perpetrators of this crime made a choice to assault the values our community” said Assemblyman David Weprin. “The people of Queens stand together as a community against each and every incident of hate; and I thank my colleagues, religious clergy and civic leaders for joining me today to speak out against these despicable acts of vandalism.”

“The despicable actions of the vandals who defaced the Holliswood Hospital site neither represent nor have a place in our community," said Senator Leroy Comrie. "Queens is a bastion of harmonious diversity—and that's what makes us great. I thank Assembly Member Weprin for bringing the community together to reaffirm this.”

“Anti-Semitic and hate symbols have no place here,” said Council Member Barry S. Grodenchik (D-Oakland Gardens). “I am working to keep our community free of all graffiti, and the vandalism at this site is particularly offensive. I join with the local residents to unequivocally reject hate speech in all forms.”

“We must always remember that God created one human being first - male and female, so that all humankind are descended from the same mother and father, and we should therefore always act with love towards all our brothers, sisters and cousins of all races, ethnicities and religions” said Rabbi Shlomo Hochburg of Young Israel of Jamaica Estates.

“Queens in general and Holliswood in particular is known for its diversity. On the weekends one finds in Holliswood; Sikhs, Muslims and Jews - the three main demographics of Holliswood - walking with their families. This act was a stain on this beautiful and diverse community. This is not to mention the survivors of the holocaust who already have their arms painted by the Nazis and who now must also have to witness a sign painted on the walls of their neighborhood that brings them back to years of torture. Sad and infuriating” said Rabbi Moshe Taub of Young Israel of Holliswood.