Nativity Scenes In Yonkers Defaced, Police Say It's A Hate Crime

Defaced nativity statue (CBS/screenshot)

Because no one is content with just leaving people the hell alone to celebrate what they believe in, police in Yonkers are investigating the vandalization of eight different nativity scenes. "It's not about the statute, it's about what it means for you. It hurts," Victoria Beldran told CBS. Beldran's nativity scene was damaged over the weekend, and vandals appear to have hit six homes and two churches. "We believe an attack on one religion is an attack on all and it violates our basic freedoms," Police Commissioner Edmund Hartnett said.

Authorities say that once the vandals are caught, the acts will be "prosecuted as a hate crime and could be a felony." Although several statutes were stolen, police found one porcelain icon of Mary, mother of Jesus, "in a dumpster—not broken." Detective Captain Robert Itzla has a theory as to why the statute wasn't damaged: “I don’t want to read too much into that, but it is the holiday season and miracles do happen."

Could the Great Miracle Machine in the Sky spare some for Rhode Island and the Staten Island Ferry terminals?

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By Christopher Robbins in News on December 20, 2011 2:16 PM

Comments [rss]

theonlyseven

Maybe someone was just taking the Second Commandment a little too far?

SFNY

I smell bored, drunk teenagers.

Mike_Nesmith

Mike Nesmith shrugged.

Obamatheracist

Christian symbols vandalized and declared a possible hate crime...wow..this is a first..I'm sure this police commissioner's days are numbered.

blameus

So the shooting of a gay student twice in the back of the head because the shooter felt sexually threatened ISN'T deemed a hate crime but this is?

Mordicai

Hey, have a little sense of scale! These are CHRISTIAN icons! That somebody broke! Not some poor kid who got assassinated.

Stan_LS

Oooh, how edgy! Let me know when they publish cartoons of Mohammed.

nicemarmot

Nah, the real miracle would be if Jesus flew down and smote those vandalizing bitches.

Emmily_Litella

Why would he? the vandals were just carrying out god’s will, since everything that happens in human affairs is due to the will of god (or is it God).