Cops are looking for a vandal who marred Sheepshead Bay’s Holocaust Memorial Park with anti-Semetic graffiti early Wednesday morning.
A vandal entered the West End Avenue Park sometime before daybreak and scrawled the word, “F—” and a Star of David across a line of tombstones listing the names of Jews who perished in history’s most deplorable pogrom, police said.
A resident passing the memorial near Emmons Avenue discovered the hate-filled graffiti a few hours later and called 911, according to Chaim Deutch, chief of staff of Councilman Michael Nelson (D–Midwood).
An NYPD spokeswoman said the Hate Crimes Task Force was investigating.
Residents and local elected officials were stunned by the vandal’s hate-filled message.
“The placement of anti-Semitic graffiti at the Holocaust Memorial Park shows us graphically that the lessons of history have not been learned by all,” said Councilman Lew Fidler (D–Marine Park). “Choosing this location is particularly hateful and shows the callous ignorance of the perpetrator.”
Wednesday’s graffiti was discovered about a month after swastikas were found along a bulkhead in Gerritsen Beach and outside a yeshiva in Marine Park. Members of the Jewish Defense Organization vowed to patrol Marine Park as a result of the yeshiva graffiti — and attack anyone caught committing a crime against Jews or Jewish property.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to call NYPD CrimeStoppers at (800) 577–TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.
Reach reporter Colin MIxson at cmixson@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-4514.
