New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said One World Trade Center would display the colors of the Belgian flag on its spire Tuesday night as a show of solidarity with the country after a spate of deadly attacks rocked its capital. But to many, the colors displayed resembled those of the French flag instead.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which oversees the building, addressed the confusion early Wednesday.
"Some people on [social media] claim it was lit [in] the wrong colors. It was not," Port Authority spokesman Steve Coleman told The Huffington Post.
"Making lights appear black is always tricky," he said. "The WTC was initially lit at 10 percent white (which was intended to appear dark grey/black) but was then darkened even more after dusk to make it look more black. From bottom to top of spire, the colors were red, yellow and black."
Cuomo had announced the symbol of support on Tuesday, saying in a statement that "we stand in solemn solidarity with the people of Belgium, just as they have done for us in the past.”
The lights on Manhattan's Empire State Building were totally darkened Tuesday night in another show of solidarity.
Cities across the world also paid tribute to the Brussels victims late Tuesday, erecting memorials and organizing vigils. Many legendary monuments, including the Eiffel Tower, also lit up in the colors of the Belgian flag.
READ MORE:
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- Harrowing Video Shows Train Evacuation After Brussels Attacks
- Cities Worldwide #PrayForBrussels
- Obama Still Wants To Talk To Enemies, But He's The Only One
- Brussels Universities Help Students Stranded After Attacks
- U.S. Cities Tighten Security After Deadly Brussels Attacks
- ‘Black Day For Europe’: Leaders React To Brussels Attacks
- Obama On Brussels Attacks: 'We Must Be Together' To Fight Terrorism
- Phone Companies Offer Free Calls To Belgium After Attacks
- Turks, Still Reeling, React To Brussels Carnage: ‘I Share Their Pain’
- Belgians' Worst Fears Realized After Months On High Terror Alert
- Belgian National Soccer Team Preaches Love In Wake Of Attacks
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