Early Sunday morning, staff at Tribeca Pediatrics in Bay Ridge were shocked to find swastika graffiti defacing the clinic’s front door and walkway. In a powerful show of unity, the hate symbol was quickly erased and replaced with a red heart, symbolizing love over hate.
The graffiti was immediately reported to police, according to Leslie Pennypacker, executive director of Tribeca Pediatrics.
“This was shocking and incredibly painful to discover,” Pennypacker told Brooklyn Paper. “Tribeca Pediatrics has always valued our diverse staff and patient population, reflective of NYC. As a community pediatric practice, we aim to create a safe space for everyone regardless of background or belief.”
In a show of good faith, the graffiti on the entryway of the pediatrician’s office, located near the corner of Bay Ridge Avenue and Third Avenue, has been removed and replaced with a painted red heart.
“Adding a small heart as a symbol that love is stronger than hate and that this act will not destroy the strong sense of community in this great neighborhood,” Pennypacker said.
In a joint statement on Facebook, local reps Council Member Justin Brannan and State Sen. Andrew Gounardes said they were informed of the graffiti early Sunday morning and that their offices quickly assisted with the clean-up effort.
“Antisemitism will not be tolerated by our offices or by this community, as demonstrated by the swift response of our staff and community members,” the pols said. “We will continue to ensure that Bay Ridge is safe and welcoming to all.”
Another instance of swastika graffiti was recently found in Brooklyn and reported to the NYPD. In December, the NYPD shared surveillance photos of an unidentified man drawing a swastika on the outside walls of St. Matthew Glorious United Church of God in Bushwick.
Police believe the symbol was drawn outside Tribeca Pediatrics around 5:30 a.m. on March 16. According to an NYPD spokesperson, the perpetrator has not been identified. The incident has been escalated to the NYPD Hate Crime Task Force, and the investigation is ongoing.
