New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) has asked state police to help investigate the vandalism of New York City’s Vietnam War memorial.
Cuomo made the announcement after photos were posted showing the memorial, located in Queens, vandalized with swastikas and several profane statements.
In a statement posted to Twitter, Cuomo said that the “memorial’s desecration with graffiti and hateful symbols, coming just two days after Memorial Day, isn’t just offensive to the memories of the soldiers and to their loved ones — it’s antithetical to the moral fiver of our state and our country, and it’s an insult to all those who stepped up in service of it.”
“I have directed the New York State Police to assist in the investigation into this disgusting act of vandalism, and we will ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice,” he said.
New York City Councilman Bob Holden posted photos of the graffiti to Twitter on Tuesday. The photos show red swastikas spray-painted on the memorial, along with the phrase “baby killers” and other profane words and phrases.
Holden said that he was “deeply disgusted by this cowardly act of vandalism,” adding that he was working with New York Police Department to “make sure the perpetrator is brought to justice.”
“I offer a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the sick soul who did it,” Holden said.
The memorial, located in Elmhurst Park, was dedicated in 2019, according to the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.
The memorial is two semicircular granite walls that are inscribed with a historical timeline of the war and includes the names of 371 people from Queens who died in the Vietnam War.