Racist, pro-Trump vandal targets Sikh temple on Long Island
A Sikh temple under construction on Long Island was vandalized by a hate-fueled suspect who spray-painted the building with racial slurs and support for former President Donald Trump, police and religious leaders said Thursday.
The suspect, who remains on the loose, scaled a ladder and climbed through a window into the house of worship, using a can of black spray paint to leave his venomous messages all over the New Hyde Park building, according to police.
The vandalism occurred earlier this week between Monday and Wednesday nights, police said, with the suspect describing temple members as “sandn----rs” and leaving the message “Trump 2024 Make America Great Again!”
“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 officials at the at 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.”
The writings were scrawled across the roof, windows and fence before the fugitive assailant fled, police said. The ladder was still leaning against the building’s side when police arrived.
Temple officials said they were cooperating with local and federal law enforcement “to ensure every appropriate action is taken to respond to this act of hate” and expressed their hopes that the bigoted suspect’s messages will inspire the local community to unite in opposition to the vandalism.
“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. 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,” their statement added.
Nassau County detectives investigating the bias incident asked anyone with information to call (800) 244-TIPS, with all callers promised anonymity.
“No community deserves to feel unsafe in their house of worship,” said Giselle Klapper, senior staff attorney for the Sikh Coalition. “We are grateful to law enforcement for responding quickly to this vandalism and moving to investigate bias as the motive given the clear xenophobic rhetoric.”
The vile vandalism comes amid a nationwide surge in hate crimes. Sikhs are among the religious groups most likely to be targeted in hate crimes, according to FBI data.
The racist writings were discovered days before the ninth anniversary of a mass shooting at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wis. A white supremacist fatally shot six people at the temple before killing himself as cops closed in.
