A Nazi flag was hanging in the window of a building directly across the street from a Hudson Valley church and not far from a school.

On Monday, the Dutchess County Democratic Committee posted a photo of a Nazi flag hanging from an apartment building window. According to the post, the flag was displayed on Main Street, not far from Vassar College and the building next door to Joe Ruggiero’s headquarters. Ruggiero is running for Dutchess County Executive, his office is located at 780 Main Street in Poughkeepsie.

“When one segment of our community attacked, none of us can say we are attack-free. These acts of hate, symbols of hate, hide under the guise of the First Amendment. Now we need to use our First Amendment rights and speak out against it and condemn it, Ruggiero said in a press release.

The flag was displayed in a heavily trafficked area, officials say. According to Google Maps, Holy Trinity Church is directly across the street from the building.

According to Ruggiero's campaign, they reached out the building's landlord about the flag in early September but was told by the landlord, "Unfortunately, due to the law, we cannot do anything to have the flag removed.”

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro confirmed the Nazi flag was hanging from a Town of Poughkeepsie apartment window and condemned the flag.

“In no way will such hatred, anti-Semitism, and fear-mongering ever be welcome in Dutchess County. Those who seek to spread fear and hatred attack our way of life, the essence of our pluralistic society, and the tranquility of an otherwise peaceful and welcoming community. We re-established our Commission on Human Rights for the very purpose of addressing this kind of hate and sending a clear message it has no place in our community," Molinaro said in a statement. "The only way to push back against such cruel and un-American ideologies is to stand together and with one voice say this will not be tolerated, this is wrong and has no place here or anywhere.”

Late Tuesday, after the photo of the flag was shared on the internet, the building's landlord took down the flag and apologized, according to Ruggiero's campaign.

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