Antisemitic graffiti found in bathroom stalls at Cedar Creek Park in Seaford being investigated by Nassau police

Nassau County police are investigating after antisemitic graffiti was found carved into multiple bathroom stalls at Cedar Creek Park in Seaford.

Police told Newsday the three swastikas were found etched inside stalls in the men’s restroom at the park. Officers were notified of the graffiti around 3 p.m. Saturday. 

Police declined to say if surveillance footage of the area was recovered by officers. It’s unclear when the bathroom was defaced, police said. 

Sen. Anna Kaplan (D-North Hills) issued a statement Saturday evening about the vandalism. 

“I’m horrified by the latest discovery of antisemitic vandalism on Long Island, and I’m disgusted that once again it was found in a public park where children and families should be able to enjoy themselves without being confronted by vile displays of hatred,” she said.

Kaplan also called on Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman to beef up police patrols in public parks and facilities. A spokesman for Blakeman told Newsday that patrols had been stepped up Saturday. 

"Nassau County is a community that welcomes people of all races, religions and ethnic groups," Blakeman said in a statement to Newsday. "This type of behavior will not be tolerated." 

Det. Lt. Richard Lebrun said late Sunday night in an email that the investigation is ongoing. Police said anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS.

Last year, antisemitic incidents on Long Island jumped by 23%, according to the Anti-Defamation League, which said the Island saw 69 antisemitic incidents in 2021, including swastika graffiti, antisemitic harassment and vandalism. 

This year, swastikas were spray painted on trees at Forest City Community Park in Wantagh before Passover. Racist graffiti also was scrawled on a sign outside Hempstead Town Hall in mid-August. The graffiti followed several antisemitic flyers distributed over the summer in Rockville Centre, Oceanside and Freeport.

By Brinley Hineman

brinley.hineman@newsday.com

Brinley Hineman covers the Town of Hempstead and the City of Long Beach for Newsday. She previously was a reporter in Nashville, Tennessee, and is a West Virginia native.