Swastika flyover irks beachgoers on Saturday

Beachgoers were surprised last Saturday as a banner featuring a swastika flew over beaches along the South Shore and in Brooklyn.

The banner featured a math equation, with a swastika plus a peace symbol equaling a heart, and referred people to a website for more information.

The website states that the word swastika comes from the Sanskrit svastika. Su means “well” and asti means “to be,” so swastika means “to be well,” the site asserts.

Visitors to the beaches didn’t completely agree

“We were at Jones Beach and all of a sudden I heard my daughter say, ‘is that a swastika?’ ” Barbara Price said.

“It flew over several times. That should not have been allowed.”

Regarding the positive meanings attached to the symbol before it was used by Hitler, Jill Froeder Monaghan said, “I don’t think it will ever be looked at the same. They should let it go and put their money into something more meaningful."

Not everyone opposed the swastika display.

“I see no issue in trying to right a wrong and educate people as to its true meaning, which is peace—a daunting task at best,” Gary Rogers said. “It does not offend me. Some cultures may still use it for its true meaning.”

Nassau Herald photo by Patricia McKay captures the swastika banner flying above Jones Beach.