Queens Pols Denounce Spray Painting of Swastikas in Bellerose at Rally

Queens’ elected officials held a rally Wednesday to denounce the persons responsible for spray-painting swastikas on several blocks in Bellerose last weekend.

State Assemblyman David Weprin, D-Little Neck, joined Assemblywoman Barbara Clark, D-Queens Village, former Assemblywoman Melinda Katz, state Sen. Tony Avella, D-Bayside, and Councilman Mark Weprin, D-Oakland Gardens, near the intersection of 87th Avenue and Little Neck Parkway to discuss the Oct. 11 incident.

A total 18 cars were vandalized and four of them were marked with swastikas, which were also sprayed onto a garage and fence. Four blocks in Bellerose were tagged with silver spray-painted graffiti.

“Hate crimes and vandalism have no place in our neighborhoods,” Weprin said. “It is essential that we do all we can to put an end to these disgraceful acts of intolerance.”

The city Police Department’s hate crime task force is currently investigating the incident.

“This is a despicable act of vandalism and those responsible for this heinous crime should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, including being possibly charged with a hate crime,” Avella said.