We Can’t Look the Other Way – History Repeats Itself
The recent incidents of hate speech in Westchester County reached a point where county officials and law enforcement are on “high alert,” after the Westchester County Holocaust Memorial in White Plains was vandalized on the eve of Yom Kippur.
Recent incidents of hate speech include antisemitic symbols posted in the bathrooms of Scarsdale High School and at Pelham Middle School. Earlier this month, three Swastikas were found in the Pelham Middle School – two in the boys bathroom and one in a locker
“We believe the incident occurred Monday (Oct. 7), and was identified the following day and reported,” said County Executive George Latimer. “Because of the location of the site, it is unlikely that it occurred during the day. An investigation by the White Plains Police Department is underway; they are reviewing some of the video tapes from the area to try and determine some of the facts.
“The police also removed the stickers that were offending. They were placed on the perimeter iron fence, which are replications of the gates entering the concentration camps with the names of the camps on them. Adhesive flyers with a depiction, or artist rendering with an antisemitic slogan were placed with ad adhesive on the fence.
“We are told that this particular flyer is available on the internet, where the person who did this could have obtained it. The flyer is not only objectionable to Jews and Christians, but everyone. The nature of the timing of this incident – on the eve of Yom Kippur, and the place where it was done, makes it clearly an antisemitic statement and a hate statement.
“And the fact that this was done on county property, while other incidents were done primarily in the schools – this one was right here in downtown White Plains, in our backyard – is as if those who did this want to tell everyone what they are doing… We intend to investigate this incident, determine if the perpetrators can be identified, and we will push to prosecute.”
The Garden of Remembrance and Holocaust Memorial was dedicated three decades ago by County Executive Andy Spano at the Michaelian Office Building on Martine Avenue in downtown White Plains. It was created by the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center.
A peaceful ceremony and prayer vigil was held last week at the memorial and was attended by several-hundred residents from a variety of faiths.
“I am disgusted by the desecration of a Holocaust memorial in White Plains on the eve of Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar,” said Gov. Andrew Cuomo. “More than 74 years ago the entire world reeled in shock, horror and sorrow over the senseless murder of more than 6 million Jews – mothers, fathers, children, grandparents, uncles, aunts, friends and neighbors. Vandalizing a memorial lovingly built in their honor is a revolting and cowardly act, and I have directed the State Police Hate Crimes Task Force to offer assistance to local authorities investigating this heinous act to ensure those responsible are held accountable. On this day of atonement, I join with New York’s Jewish community in remembrance of the lives lost and I pray for love, peace and understanding. Hate has no place in this state.”
Last weekend and after the incident at the Holocaust Memorial, a man wearing a baseball cap with a Nazi symbol on it was asked to leave the City Limits Diner in White Plains. Several customers left the diner before the man, who had a swastika drawn on a white kippah, or Jewish cap, that was on top of the hat.
“We checked his credentials and ran his name through all the intelligence systems,” said White Plains Commissioner of Public Safety David Chong. “He had no priors and since the property was his own, as offensive as it was, it did not meet the level of a crime. He claimed that it was his constitutional right to free speech and expression and he is correct. After we escorted him out, we forwarded his information to the State Terrorism Center.”
The material in the flyer placed on the Holocaust Memorial is said to be so offensive that it is not being released by county police.
Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner, who was himself the victim of a hate crime, called for increased penalties for those caught and charged with a hate crime.
“The police will be searching for the individual(s) involved,” he said. “The question I have is: What will happen to the individual if he/she is caught? If it’s a first offense, will the punishment be insignificant? Will the defendant be sent to jail? Should the defendant, if found guilty, be required to reimburse the local governments for the costs associated with the detective work, police investigations? Should the State Legislature amend state law and require a significant punishment that would deter other acts of hate? And require judges to impose a minimum penalty?
“Two years ago I received three separate e mails with numerous antisemitic slurs. The final sentence bore the threat, ‘You better run and hide you stupid xxxx-ing Jew. We are coming for you and your family.’ The e-mails were signed by ‘Anti Zionist.’
“Although the e-mails did not have the defendant’s real name on it, the Greenburgh Police were able to make an arrest after three weeks of searching. The individual pleaded not guilty and a trial was held in White Plains Court in September 2019. Although I was pleased that the White Plains judge found the defendant guilty, I was surprised the sentence was so light – 72 hours of community service, an order of protection for me and my wife and daughter, and one year conditional discharge. Prior to the arrest, the Greenburgh Police provided my family with 24 hours around-the-clock police protection – a very expensive police presence the defendant did not have to reimburse the town for.
“If defendants, once caught, get only a slap on the wrist, there will be no disincentive not to commit the crime,” said Feiner. “I think there should be tougher penalties to discourage crimes of hate. I urge the State Legislature, civic and religious leaders to come up with minimum punishments for hate crimes. This should not be restricted to antisemitism, but should include all acts of hate. We can’t look the other way. History repeats itself.”
