26
COURIER LIFE, APRIL 22-28, 2022
BY JESSICA PARKS
Spray paint portraying a Russian
propaganda symbol was
swiftly removed from the Shore
Road Promenade in Bay Ridge after
it was posted about on social
media Wednesday morning.
The “Z” graffi tied on the bike
path pavement is a symbol used
by the Russian military in their
invasion of Ukraine to demarcate
their vehicles from those
of enemies, and is now used in
mainstream as a pro-war icon.
A photo of the symbol painted
next to an image of the Russian
fl ag was posted in a Bay Ridge
Facebook group on April 13, and
the photographer described it as
a “neo-Nazi” image that didn’t
belong in their southern Brooklyn
community.
“Today while biking Shore
Road Park I saw something I was
hoping I would not see in NY –
the Russian neo-Nazi Z net to the
Russian fl ag was painted right on
the footpath, maybe 20 feet away
from the Verrazzano Bridge,” the
post in Bay Ridge Parents read.
“Whoever painted that, there is
no place for you and your hate in
Bay Ridge and NY in general.”
The poster alerted City Councilmember
Justin Brannan’s offi
ce, who reached out to the city
Parks Department to remove the
graffi ti. (Parks did not respond to
a request for comment by press
time.)
Speaking to Brooklyn Paper,
the pol said the city’s Ukrainian
population should be protected
and supported in this time of need.
“I don’t do foreign policy, I get
potholes fi lled,” Brannan said.
The Shore Road Promenade. File photo by Georgine Benvenuto
“But here’s what I know: southern
Brooklyn is home to one of
the largest Ukrainian populations
in the United States and we
stand with Ukrainian people everywhere
against the genocidal
invasion of their homeland.”
Russia invaded Ukraine at
the end of February this year,
eight years after the former Soviet
country annexed the Crimea
region of Ukraine, in an attempt
to block the country from entering
NATO — the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization — and halt
its reach into the Eastern Bloc,
which Russian President Vladimir
Putin sees as a threat to his
country.
The confl ict has hit home
for much of southern Brooklyn,
such as Brighton Beach, which
is home to one of the largest
Ukrainian populations outside
of Eastern Europe. The nabe has
even earned the nickname “Little
Odessa,” owing to its population
and its perch near the beach,
just as the moniker’s Ukrainian
namesake.
While many pro-Ukrainian
symbols have popped up around
Brooklyn in support of the Ukrainian
defense against Russian invasion,
a source told Brooklyn
Paper that this is the fi rst time a
pro-Russian symbol has been spotted
on the borough’s southern end.
The Police Department did
not immediately say whether or
not the incident is being investigated
as a hate crime.
Close to home
Pro-Russian war graffi ti
reported and removed from
Shore Road Promenade
0.90% 1.10%
APY1 APY1
To qualify you must have or open any Flushing Bank Complete Checking account2 which provides you with access to over 55,000 ATMs,
ATM fee rebates, mobile banking, and mobile check deposit. Plus, you can qualify for additional cash bonuses.3
For more information and to find out about our other great offers, visit your local Flushing Bank branch, call 800.581.2889
(855.540.2274 TTY/TDD) or visit FlushingBank.com.
Small enough to know you.
Large enough to help you.®
1) New money only. APY effective April 6, 2022. Annual percentage yield assumes principal and interest remain on deposit for a full year at current rate. Minimum deposit balance of $1,000 is required. Funds cannot be transferred from an existing
Flushing Bank account. Premature withdrawals may be subject to bank and IRS penalties. Rates and offer are subject to change without notice. 2) Certain fees, minimum balance requirements and restrictions may apply. Fees may reduce earnings on these
accounts. A checking account is not required for IRA accounts. 3) The Customer Value Program bonus is limited to one (1) account credit per new Complete Checking customer. New money only. Existing checking account customers are not eligible. A new
checking account is defined as any new checking account that does not have any authorized signatures in common with any other existing Flushing Bank checking account(s). An existing checking customer is defined as anyone who currently has or has
had a Flushing Bank checking account within the last 24 months. New money is defined as money not currently on deposit with Flushing Bank. The Customer Value Program bonus will be based on the three-month average account balance of the first three
(3) full calendar months after the month of account opening. The Customer Value Program bonus will be posted to the account on or about the end of the subsequent month following the account’s three (3) month anniversary. A 1099 will be issued in the
amount of the account bonus. The new Complete Checking account must remain open, active, and in good standing for six months. The bonus will be forfeited if the account is closed prior to six months. Other fees and restrictions may apply. The minimum
three-month average balance to qualify for the Customer Value Program is $10,000. A minimum deposit of $25 is required to open the Complete Checking account. The offer is subject to change or termination without prior notice at any time. Speak with a
branch representative for details.
Follow us on Flushing Bank is a registered trademark
®
Great rates like ours are always in season.
12-Month
CD or IRA CD
24-Month
CD or IRA CD
$1,000 minimum deposit $1,000 minimum deposit
/FlushingBank.com