The Orthodox Jewish community in Haverstraw lashed out at Rockland County Executive Ed Day Thursday after he posted photos online of children climbing and sitting on the 9/11 memorial in Haverstraw Bay County Park.

The group says the post generated numerous hateful comments about Jewish people.

For some, the picture was just of the children on one of the memorial's benches. For others, it is a sign of disrespect to the 81 Rockland County victims of the tragedy, whose names are etched on the memorial.

The controversy reached new heights when Rockland County Executive Ed Day reposted the picture on his personal Facebook page, calling it a "desecration of the sacred site."

Orthodox Jews call the comments that followed nothing short of hateful and racist.

A spokesman for County Executive Day's office says his stance has not changed.