NYSP Directed To Aid In Investigation Of Graffiti In Scarsdale

SCARSDALE, NY — Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued two directives Saturday morning dealing with hate-filled graffiti and the upcoming Jewish holidays. Cuomo said he was disgusted by the graffiti found for the second time during the month of September at the Scarsdale High School.

He directed the state police Hate Crimes Task Force to assist in the investigation of the graffiti.

On Thursday, offensive graffiti was found in a bathroom in Scarsdale High School. A swastika etched into a toilet-paper dispenser was found at the school Sept. 12.

"In New York we have absolutely zero tolerance for anti-Semitism and bigotry of any kind," Cuomo said.

"We have been crystal clear that hateful acts — whether they be in the form of graffiti or violence — are completely unacceptable, and we will continue to call them out whenever and wherever we see them," he said in a prepared statement.

The governor also said that he was directing the state police to increase security near synagogues and religious centers during the upcoming Jewish high holidays.

"As members of the the Jewish community prepare to celebrate Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, out of an abundance of caution and following a number of appalling anti-Semitic incidents over the past year, I am directing the state police to increase patrols at synagogues and other religious centers across our state," Cuomo said.

"We will not allow the cowards who contributed to the recent rash of hateful acts against the Jewish community and other groups to intimidate or divide us," he said, and I want to assure our Jewish brothers and sisters that New York stands united with them now and always."

Rosh Hashana begins the evening of Sunday, Sept. 29 and ends the evening of Tuesday, Oct. 1. Yom Kippur starts the evening of Tuesday, Oct. 8 and ends the following evening.

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