Racism In America: Anti-Semitic Vandalism Sees Swastikas Engraved On Church Doors In New York
An Upper West Side Unitarian church near Central Park has been vandalized with anti-Semitic graffiti. Swastika symbols along with the words “race office” were engraved on two wooden doors at the Fourth Universalist Society on Central Park West between 75th and 76th Streets, church officials said Wednesday.
The parishioners at the Fourth Universalist Society found the swastikas Tuesday morning when they opened for services, and they said that the vandals probably made them late Monday night when the church was closed, or early Tuesday. The church is now working to fix the doors, CBS Local reported.
The words “race office” refer to the official racial policy followed by the Nazi Party under Adolf Hitler that considered Aryans to be a superior race.
Fourth Universalist Society is non-creedal, which means that they welcome practitioners from any faith. They are also one of the houses of worship that have pledged to provide shelter to refugees and undocumented immigrants and offered them food and lodging. Senior Minister Rev. Schuyler Vogel said this might be one of the reasons that they were attacked.
“We’re processing it. It’s not something that’s been easy for the congregation. We have a long history of social justice, in providing sanctuary and supporting groups like Black Lives Matter. To be a voice to those who are marginalized and to stand with them, that sometimes opens us up to attacks,” Vogel told New York Daily News.
The words “race office” refer to the official racial policy followed by the Nazi Party under Adolf Hitler that considered Aryans to be a superior race.
Fourth Universalist Society is non-creedal, which means that they welcome practitioners from any faith. They are also one of the houses of worship that have pledged to provide shelter to refugees and undocumented immigrants and offered them food and lodging. Senior Minister Rev. Schuyler Vogel said this might be one of the reasons that they were attacked.
“We’re processing it. It’s not something that’s been easy for the congregation. We have a long history of social justice, in providing sanctuary and supporting groups like Black Lives Matter. To be a voice to those who are marginalized and to stand with them, that sometimes opens us up to attacks,” Vogel told New York Daily News.
