WHITE PLAINS – On the eve of the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur, the Garden of Remembrance at the Westchester County Holocaust Museum in White Plains was vandalized.
Public officials have condemned the action.
County Executive George Latimer condemned the flyers glued to the memorial and other defacing.
“Suffice to say the graphic that was on this flyer was offensive; it was offensive to not only people who are Jewish, but to people of the Christian faith and the wording on the flyer was obscene and objectionable,” Latimer said. “There is no debate about this; any of those of who have seen it and what the depiction was, this is clearly a statement of hatred across the board.”
Governor Andrew Cuomo said he is “disgusted” by the vandalism.
“More than 74 years ago the entire world reeled in shock, horror and sorrow over the senseless murder of more than six million Jews – mothers, father, children, grandparents, uncles, aunts, friends and neighbors,” the governor said. “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.”
Cuomo said 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.”
