Large Swastikas and 'make America white again' are seen scrawled on sidewalks and college bathrooms in Long Island
Racist graffiti has been found in several Long Island towns since December
Sidewalks were targeted in multi-cultural areas
More swastikas were found in bathrooms at Nassau Community College
Police are investigating and say the graffiti amounts to a hate crime
By Sarah Dean For Mailonline
Published: 10:04 EST, 19 December 2016 | Updated: 10:25 EST, 19 December 2016
A red swastika and the slogan 'Make America White Again' have been spray painted on sidewalks in Long Island, sparking a police investigation.
Locals have reported seeing the racist graffiti since the beginning of December in several towns, the Nassau County Police Department said.
In Washington Avenue, Mineola, the graffiti was discovered sprawled outside someone's home on November 30.
A red swastika and the racist slogan 'make America white again' have been spray painted on sidewalks in what police say amounts to a hate crime
Nassau County Police Department Lieutenant Richard Lebrun told the Mineloa American that the message was a hate crime.
Police also wrote graffiti with 'other disparaging and derogatory remarks against African Americans and those of Middle Eastern decent,' Lebrun said.
More swastikas have also been found in bathrooms at Nassau Community College.
One student shared a photo of a black swastika with the caption 'NCC BATHROOM. Shame on you'.
The college quickly responded and asked for the location of the graffiti so it could be removed.
One student shared a photo of a black swastika inside a Nassau Community College bathroom with the caption 'Shame on you'
Democratic Congresswoman Kathleen Rice, who grew up on Long Island, said in a statement: 'To the person who spray-painted swastikas and "Make America White Again" on a sidewalk in Mineola: You are not clever, you are not tough.
‘You are a coward. If you have something you want to say, then come forward, turn yourself into the police, and show your family, your friends, and your neighbors who you are.
'I won’t hold my breath waiting for President-Elect Trump to condemn people using his campaign slogan to intimidate people of color.
'It’s up to every one of us to call out this kind of language and behavior wherever we encounter it, and it’s up to every one of us to show that we are grateful to live in such a diverse district, state and country.'