Yesterday was World Swastika Rehabilitation Day, an occasion to try "to explain the true meaning of the symbol,” according to Thomas Kaenzig, a member of the International Raelian Movement and the organizer of the event. Oh, did you not know this was happening? Then you must not have looked up, since a plane flew across Manhattan, across the Jersey Shore and across Long Beach Island with a banner displaying the word "Swastika" along with the group's insignia (a swastika intertwined with a Star of David). As you can imagine, people were confused and less than enthusiastic.

It's a gorgeous day... And some idiot is flying a swastika banner off the tail of his plane up and down Manhattan. — Miguelina Nunez (@MiguelinaNunez) June 23, 2012

Saw a Pro-Swastika sign fly past the beach today, society is disgusting — Chris Frost (@_ChrisFrost) June 23, 2012

At the beach today in NYC when a plane passes with a banner with a star of David and a SWASTIKA!!! I couldn't believe it, Lord help us! — Jaime Lynn Fusco (@JaimeLynnFusco) June 23, 2012

workingat the beach enjoying my day and then a plane flies over with a banner saying pro swastika #Wtf — Madison Gourley (@Madison_Gourley) June 23, 2012

I just saw a "pro-swastika" plane banner fly over the Verrazano. Are you shitting me? — Megs (@YankeeMegInPHL) June 23, 2012

Just saw an airplane ad on the beach for nazis with a giant swastika on it ... #sickpeople — Danielle Gethard(@daniellegethard) June 23, 2012

I love seeing pro swastika signs on airplanes at the beach. #nice #sarcasm — Pamela Henning (@pamelaxxhenning) June 23, 2012

Kaenzig told the Post, “By keeping it taboo, we give credit to the horrific Nazi ideology.” But the Raelians—who believe that life on Earth was scientifically created by extraterrestrials known as the Elohim—might have some trouble convincing people without a bit more context. The Jewish Community Center of Long Beach Island was certainly concerned: "We're trying to find out—what are their intentions?" Don Pripstein, the center's president, told Patch.

Also not in the Raelians favor: the rehabilitation day also came at a time when there has been an uptick in swastika-related incidents around Brooklyn. There have been at least three of those incidents in Borough Park over the last two weeks alone.