QUEENS, New York (WABC) — Swastikas were discovered in two different parks in Queens on Mother’s Day, one week after hateful graffiti was also plastered throughout the borough.<\/p>\n
Alex Augustyniak has seen some beautiful birds here at the Highland Park Ridgewood Reservoir, but what he noticed on Sunday should never take flight.<\/p>\n
He called 911 immediately after finding a swastika painted on the fence.<\/p>\n
“I was disgusted. It’s not something I’ve ever really seen around here. I was really disappointed,” said Augustyniak, a bird watcher.<\/p>\n
Officials report Mother’s Day in Queens began with half a dozen swastikas spray-painted around Highland Park.<\/p>\n
Police said another six were discovered along the bridle path at Forest Park, right under the overpass.<\/p>\n
English Teacher Alex King walks in the area every day but was stopped in his tracks when he saw image after image along the columns.<\/p>\n
He called 311, 911, and even went to the precinct. By the time he returned from school, the hateful symbols were gone.<\/p>\n
“So I was happy that it was all cleaned up, that when I was coming back on my way home now it looks like they painted over, I didn’t want anybody else to, like, see it,” King said.<\/p>\n