A vandal hit a Sikh Temple under construction in Hyde Park, NY with racist messages, reports CBS NY.
The act of intolerance came just days before yesterday’s ninth anniversary of the Oak Creek Massacre which left seven people dead, including one victim who died of his wounds just last year.
According to the New York Daily News, the suspect used a can of black spray paint and made clear his allegiance to former President Donald Trump by leaving “Trump 2024, Make America great again” scrawled on the walls.
“We were deeply saddened to discover hateful messages graffitied all over the site where a new gurdwara is being constructed for our community,” said a statement from the Darbar Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji New York temple. “Given the bigotry and backlash the Sikh community has experienced in the past, it is impossible not to feel pain in this moment.”
Village Mayor Chris Devane called those responsible “idiots.”
“Whoever the idiots are responsible for this, the community is going to rally around this. They are not going to succumb to the fear of that situation,” Devane said to CBS NY.
Devane said a neighborhood watch group will be started to prevent future acts of intolerance.
“We also draw inspiration from from how we have always responded to incidents of hate with resilience and the Sikh spirit of chardi kala — relentless optimism,” the temple said in a statement. “If the intent of this vandalism was to sow fear we instead hope that it will help raise Sikh awareness and bring our diverse Nassau County community closer together.”
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