Fighting Hate With Love: Rockland County Mother Draws Hearts Over Anti-Semitic Graffiti
POMONA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A Rockland County mother of two fought hate with love after anti-Semitic graffiti appeared on her quiet residential street.
Someone spray painted in bright orange "No Jews" in front of two homes for sale on Carteret Drive in Pomona.
When Ivey Mackle saw it, she covered up the hateful words with spray paint and then used sidewalk chalk to decorate the street with hearts.
Rockland County Executive Ed Day called the incident disgusting, and is applauding the young mother, who he described as a "true Rocklander."
"I was pleasantly surprised at the description of the act, I was not surprised what was in her heart," Day said. "For her to take the time to clean up the graffiti, to put hearts in its place, I think was a tremendous gesture on her part."
"What we try to do here in Rockland County is we look to shut the hate out," Day added.
Ramapo police are investigating and neighboring Clarkstown police are stepping up patrols following the act of vandalism.
Clarkstown Supervisor George Hoehmann called the graffiti "deeply troubling."
"I condemn it in the strongest terms," said Hoehmann. "Anti-Semitism is abhorrent in any form and will not be tolerated in Rockland County."
Anti-Semitic graffiti has also appeared recently in upstate New York and in the boroughs.
