Different bills, same goal

Legislators seek to ban flying swastika displays

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When the State Legislature begins its new session in January, the Assembly will consider two proposals that seek to limit public displays of swastikas.

The measures stem from a move on July 11, known by some groups as International Swastika Rehabilitation Day, when the International Raelians flew a banner bearing a swastika inside a Star of David over beaches from Nassau County to Queens. The Raelians are a religious group with a peaceful philosophy.

This month, Assemblyman Brian Curran (R-Lynbrook), whose district covers a portion of Hewlett, introduced a bill that would amend the current hate crime law to include the word “display” regarding the swastika, making the law identical to the language that bars a noose from being exhibited on any building or real property without the permission of the property owner or operator. The existing law prohibits the “placing” of a swastika on any building or real property, such as an etching, painting or drawing. Both crimes are classified as first-degree aggravated harassment and are categorized as class E felonies.

“It is my feeling that there are certain symbols that cannot be rehabilitated due to their history, and they patently offend certain segments of the population,” Curran said. “One of the examples is a noose, and the swastika should be held in the same regard.”

The Town of Hempstead supports his proposed legislation. Officials wrote what they call a “Statement in Support of Amending the Hate Crimes Statute” that can be signed by residents at http://bit.ly/1WJCRPF. “I encourage all residents to sign the ‘Statement in Support of Amending the Hate Crimes Statute’ to help prevent further acts of hatred and anti-Semitism,” said Supervisor Kate Murray, who is the Republican candidate for county district attorney.

Having the swastika flown over what Assemblyman Todd Kaminsky (D-Long Beach) called “the most predominantly Jewish area of the world,” an incident that also occurred last year, amounts to “uninvited public viewing,” he said.

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