LONG BEACH, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey beachgoers were startled over the weekend to see a small plane flying overhead pulling a swastika banner.
Twitter was abuzz with tweets from people who saw the plane fly over Long Beach Island on Saturday afternoon.
The group behind the flight says it wasn’t meant as a representation of hate. The International Raelian (RAIL’-ee-ann) Movement says the swastika is actually a symbol of peace and beauty that was corrupted by Nazis in 20th century Germany.
On its website, the group writes that the flight was part of its third swastika rehabilitation day.
Don Pripstein, president of the Jewish Community Center of Long Beach Island, says whatever the group’s intentions are, the image is still horrific for many Jews whose relatives were killed in the Holocaust.
I find this very offensive and believe this group to be antisemites hiding behind rhetoric…there is nothing peaceful about this symbol and since it’s not so important to be politically correct to the survivors of the Holocaust then perhaps it’s not so important to be politically correct to anyone. This steps way over the line. The group needs to be investigated with a fine tooth comb and hate crimes are issued because of this so called “peaceful” symbol to others who display this symbol so charges need to be pressed on this group and the pilot.