Rockland Officials Condemn Racist Graffiti, Swastikas At High Tor State Park

NEW CITY, NY - Rockland County officials announced that they have condemned the hateful contents of graffiti found on rocks at High Tor State Park, which was found on Tuesday.

The graffiti included swastikas and racial epithets, according to the county legislature, which noted that it was located near the park's peak.

The county legislature added that its Multi-Services Committee unanimously approved a resolution against the graffiti, as well as other hateful acts locally, at a meeting on Tuesday. The full legislature is expected to vote on the resolution at its meeting on Tuesday, June 20.

“We have no room for this type of hate in Rockland County,” Legislator Michael Grant said in a statement. “It is unacceptable for people to make others feel small or worse, feel afraid in the community in which they live.”

High Tor's peak played an important role in the American Revolution, the legislature noted in its announcement.

"The peak is in popular High Tor State Park, which straddles the towns of Clarkstown and Haverstraw, and offers breathtaking views of the Hudson River. During the American Revolution, Colonists lit signal fires on the peak to warn of British ship and troop movements."

“No person should feel like they have been targeted due to their race, religion, ethnicity and so forth,” Legislator Philip Soskin said in a statement. “I condemn these acts and ask the perpetrators to stop and think about what they are doing - and to not do it.”

Rockland County Executive Ed Day joined his counterparts in blasting the graffiti.

"We deplore any symbol or any hint of hate directed at any person or group," Day said in a statement. "Our Human Rights Commission stands ready to work with any groups to promote tolerance and respect among all the diverse people who live in Rockland."

Day added that he has called on the state Palisades Interstate Parks Commission to remove the graffiti.

The graffiti at High Tor is the latest of such incidents found in Rockland within the past year. The legislature's resolution also condemns the May 25 discovery of "No Jews" being spray painted on a Haverstaw home's basement wall; the Feb. 21 discovery of swastikas being spray painted on a fence in New Square; a Feb. 6 announcement of swastikas being found on trees in New City; a Nov. 14 discovery of "No Jews" being spray painted on a road in front of a pair of Ramapo houses for sale; and "incendiary devices" being set off last Aug. 9 outside the New City homes of two rabbis.

Photo: High Tor State Park, with a view towards the Village of Haverstraw and the Hudson River. Image is by Thomas McGuire, posted on Wikimedia and made available via a Creative Commons license.