Brooklyn Man Arrested For Swastikas At Penn Station
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
(JTA) — A Brooklyn man has been arrested for drawing swastikas and other bias graffiti in men’s bathrooms in Penn Station.
Pasquale Vargas, 65, is accused of multiple incidents of hate-crime graffiti at Penn Station.
Vargas admitted to writing the graffiti during an interview with MTA police, according to the statement. He also was arrested while carrying a black Sharpie permanent marker in his bag.
“This arrest sends a clear message that all hate crimes will be thoroughly investigated, and we will prosecute those found responsible for perpetrating these reprehensible actions,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. “We have zero tolerance for these acts of bigotry, which stand in direct contrast to the values that we New Yorkers represent.
In November, Governor Cuomo directed the creation of the State Police Hate Crimes Unit to investigate and offer assistance to other law enforcement agencies investigating potential hate crimes.
In February, a rider on the Manhattan subway led his fellow commuters in cleaning up an MTA car full of swastikas drawn in permanent marker on the train’s maps, advertisements and windows.
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