Yorktown to Commission Unity Mural at Hate Speech Site
(May 26, 2022) – The Town Board asked state officials for permission to paint a unity mural at the site where hate speech was discovered this past weekend.
On Tuesday, the Town Board adopted a “Hate Has No Home” resolution making a mural request to the state and directing the Yorktown Arts & Culture Committee to organize the rules by which the Town can accept mural proposals from artists.
“The chief of police and the police department are working very hard in trying to determine who may have done this hateful act,” said Councilman Tom Diana.
The hateful graffiti was discovered on Saturday under an overpass of the Taconic Parkway near the Croton Reservoir.
“Take deep breath around it and feel into what the fear is when someone reads those hateful words,” said Councilwoman Luciana Haughwout. “It’s really important that we feed this hate with love and acceptance and understanding and try to help educate not only the person with this hate, but also the community.”
The anti-Semitic and racist graffiti incident was found one month after Yorktown held its annual Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony.
“It’s quite disappointing and angering,” said Councilman Ed Lachterman, who led the ceremony. “There’s something lacking where people don’t understand the significance and meaning of those words. Hopefully, it’s something that can be addressed on an educational level.”
Councilman Sergio Esposito called for mutual respect.
“This shouldn’t be a political topic,” said Councilman Esposito.
Supervisor Matt Slater said the incident made him angry because it does not reflect most people in Yorktown. He noted that hate speech can lead to violence like the mass shootings in Buffalo and Texas. Supervisor Slater called on residents of all political affiliations to reject hate speech.
“If you don’t think for a second that there are consequences for the disgusting and vile hatred that people are poisoning this society with, you’re wrong,” said Supervisor Slater, who praised Yorktown police Chief Robert Noble for response to the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
“I know that he’s taken proactive steps to ensure the safety of all the children of Yorktown as they attend school,” said Supervisor Slater.
Earlier this month, voters approved a school budget that will hire a new school resource officer in September for the Crompond, Brookside and Mohansic elementary schools. The new officer will become the eighth school resource officer in Yorktown’s two school districts.
Contact: Yorktown Supervisor Matt Slater, 914-962-5722 x201 or [email protected]
