Holliswood, New York – On Friday, Assemblyman David I. Weprin and Councilman Barry S. Grodenchik joined religious clergy, residents, and concerned community advocates for a press conference condemning newly found hateful and anti-Semitic graffiti at the Holliswood Hospital site. Symbols found include a swastika, the number ‘666’ and, several upside down crosses and a heart that appears to be divided in half. The markings, which were painted over prior to the press conference by the NYPD at the request of the property owner, were similar to graffiti markings found in June 2017 at the same location and have persisted despite efforts to secure the area.

“We will not tolerate hate in our neighborhood or in any neighborhood,” said Assemblyman David I. Weprin. “The hate crime in this case may be against the Jewish community, but a hate crime against anyone is a hate crime against all of us.”

“Anti-Semitic and hate symbols are repugnant to and rejected by our community,” 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 condemn hate speech in all forms.”

“If a picture is worth a thousand words, that image of a swastika is worth about six million words,” said Rabbi Moshe Taub of Young Israel of Holliswood. “This is not what America stands for and we will therefore not stand for this.”