Muslim Family Finds Messages Of Hate In Their Mailbox On Long Island

MALVERNE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A Muslim family is determined to stay strong after finding messages of hate left in their mailbox this week on Long Island.

Police on Monday afternoon, the family discovered a piece of paper with a swastika and the words "KKK Hate Muslims, We will kill you, Jesus loves you" scribbled in red ink left in the mailbox of their home in Malverne.

A paper plate bearing the message, "The KKK is coming for you Muslims" was also found.

"I pulled it out, and to my utter shock and horror, it was a threat note," one woman who lives in the home told CBS2's Jennifer McLogan. "It's terrifying, actually, to see it – and a couple hours later, there was another note."

The victims were concealing their identity Tuesday, trying to recover from the sickening threats.

"It said that they hate Muslims, and they would kill us, and at the end of the note they did mention that 'Jesus loves you,'" she said.

The woman is a former financial analyst; her husband an electrical engineer; their son in premed; and their daughter in high school. They have lived in the same house on the same block for 20 years and have felt loved and respected there.

"I wear a hijab. My daughter wears a hijab," she said. "But I've always said no, in Malverne, I always feel safe. I always felt welcome here. There is no place I'd rather be."

Patricia McDonald, the widow of NYPD Detective Steven McDonald, is Malverne's mayor.

"When something like this happens, it affects all of us," McDonald said. "I mean, when I heard this, my heart sank."

"And I could see the look on my children's face," the victim added. "They were like: 'Why, why would somebody send us this?'"

Habeeb Ahmed of the Islamic Center of Long Island spoke out about the incident.

"Every faith teaches peaceful coexistence, so it is very important we respect each other," Ahmed said. "We pray that may God help him, put him on the right path."

"We will be putting up cameras and a security system -- especially for the peace of mind for my children. I want them to feel safe and secure," the victim added. "I don't want them to experience first shock of feeling somebody hates us."

The community is rallying around the victims, urging them to press charges in hopes for a quick arrest. Community members said such hatred will not be tolerated.

Detectives request anyone with information regarding the above incident to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.