Anti-Semitic material left at New York Holocaust memorial investigated as hate crime

Suburban New York City police are investigating after anti-Semitic materials were found at Holocaust memorial in White Plains, N.Y., on Tuesday, ABC News reports.

Tuesday was the eve of Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo brought the state’s police hate crime task force in to investigate. 

{mosads}Cuomo, in a statement, said “more than 74 years ago the entire world reeled in shock, horror and sorrow over the senseless murder of more than six million Jews.”

“On this day of atonement, I join with New York’s Jewish community in remembrance of the lives lost and I pray for love, peace and understanding,” he continued.

Anti-Semitic hate crimes have been on the rise in the United States. In 2017, nearly 60 percent of hate crimes recorded in the United States were driven by anti-Semitism, according to ABC.

There have been two synagogue shootings in the country in the past year, one in Pittsburgh and the other in California.

“We are enraged by this act and heartbroken that individuals would target members of our community,” Westchester County Executive George Latimer said in a statement.

“We as a County, people of all faiths, stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters today and always.”

Latimer says that patrols have been increased around the memorial and that officials were reviewing security footage.