Swastika Graffiti Scrawled on Lifeguard Chair in Davis Park
By Shoshanna McCollum
Hate came to the shores of Fire Island on the eve of Independence Day Weekend as several Nazi swastika symbols were discovered scribbled onto lifeguard chairs in the community of Davis Park on Thursday morning, June 29. The incident is presently being investigated as a bias crime by Suffolk County Police Hate Crimes Unit.
“Four swastikas were discovered on lifeguard stands on the beach at Davis Park,” said SCPD Assistant Commissioner Justin Meyers. “They were drawn with an unknown type of marker, black in color. On two separate lifeguard stands, anti-Semitic remarks were written.”
The defaced lifeguard chairs were located on Trustees Walk, a major access point to the beach for the remote eastern Fire Island community. Lifeguard operations for Davis Park are administered by the Town of Brookhaven, who had not made comment at the time this report went to press.
However the Davis Park Association provided the following statement to Fire Island News:
“We have learned of an incident of hateful graffiti being left on our beautiful beach. The Davis Park Association condemns this despicable ignorant act. Davis Park is a tolerant, open-minded community. There is no place here for hate speech. We are grateful to Brookhaven Town Supervisor Edward P. Romaine and Councilman Neil J. Foley for taking prompt action to address this incident with the Suffolk County Police.”
Several similar incidents had been reported on the mainland in Nassau County over the past year. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Gonzales at the SCPD Hate Crimes Unit directly at 631-852-6323.
