Another swastika, the second one found recently in East Hampton Town, has turned up, but police did not call it a hate crime and say the two incidents do not appear to be related. This one takes aim at Democrats.
Someone wrote “DEM” and “CRATS” (with a swastika in the middle) “ARE NAZIS!!” in black marker on a picnic bench at Little Albert’s Beach in Amagansett. It was reported to police on Friday, about two weeks after a swastika was found spray-painted on a large rock, along with writing in Spanish, at the corner of Pembroke and Underwood Drives in Springs.
Police believe the first incident was the work of juveniles and have said it was not aimed at any one person. The words in Spanish appear to be gibberish and not gang-related.
Detective Sgt. Dan Toia of the town police said Tuesday that the swastika at Little Albert’s did not appear to be related to the first. Asked if it was being considered a hate crime under the law, he said it was not because no individual was targeted on their nationality, race, or religion. “The mere placement of a swastika or calling someone a Nazi is not a hate crime,” he said.
Both incidents of criminal mischief continue under investigation. Anyone with information has been asked to call detectives at 631-537-7575.
The East Hampton Town Board discussed the incidents at its meeting on Tuesday afternoon. Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc said in his office afterward that while he believed the spray-painted swastika was the work of juveniles, it was still “troubling, especially if you were of Jewish descent, it would be especially troubling.”
The second incident was also troubling to the supervisor, a Democrat on an all-Democratic board. Councilwoman Sylvia Overby read out a Nov. 11 email from Chief Michael Sarlo that said the department was still investigating both incidents. “We understand how unsettling and disturbing hate symbols are to the community and we will continue to be diligent in our patrol work to ensure bias and hate have no place in East Hampton,” the chief wrote. Ms. Overby said the town’s anti-bias task force would address the issue as well.
Mr. Van Scoyoc said that while the first incident appeared to be youth-oriented, the second did not. “To me, it’s probably somebody who feels that, okay, we’re overzealous in some way, we control everything, like the SS or something. I don’t know. That’s the way it feels to me.
“Hateful symbols, language, is very disturbing in our community. We’re a very inclusive community, and we need to push back against this type of expression of hate,” he added.
Ms. Overby said it was hard for her to comprehend such hate in the community. “I’m aghast at this kind of level. It’s not part of how I feel about this community. It’s hard for me to wrap my head around it and have a coherent response. I’m just so upset by hearing and seeing these kinds of things.”
With reporting by Christopher Walsh