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New York State Republican Chairman Ed Cox has spoken out after the GOP headquarters in Albany was vandalized earlier this week. The building on State Street was defaced with swastikas, which were taped to the doors and windows. Albany police are investigating the incident, which occurred overnight and was discovered Thursday morning (April 17).
According to NEWS10 ABC, the swastikas were printed on standard letter-sized paper and duct-taped to the building. A sign attached below one swastika read, "If this is not what you stand for, prove it." A chalk message on the sidewalk referenced Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a man deported to El Salvador under the Trump administration.
Chairman Cox described the act as "vile" and an attack on civil discourse, democracy, and decency. He urged New York's Democratic leaders, including Governor Kathy Hochul and Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, to denounce the vandalism. Governor Hochul responded on Twitter, stating, "No one should ever resort to violence or vandalism to make a political point."
Republican leaders across the state echoed Cox's sentiments. House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik called for the perpetrator to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt criticized the vandals for their "hate-fueled intimidation."
The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is urged to contact the authorities. The New York GOP is committed to ensuring the individual responsible is held accountable.