A New York Jewish day school was vandalized with swastika graffiti on Tuesday night, the New York Police Department and Governor Kathy Hochul said in statements on Wednesday.
The NYPD became aware of the graffiti on a Magen David Yeshiva school in Brooklyn in the morning. The swastikas were spray-painted on multiple construction barriers.
Governor Kathy Hochul said on X that the school was one of several Jewish sites defaced on Tuesday night.
"I strongly condemn this hateful display of antisemitism," said Hochul.
Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani said on social media that the "disgusting" and "heartbreaking" act of antisemitism had no place in the city,
"As mayor, I will always stand steadfast with our Jewish neighbors to root the scourge of antisemitism out of our city," Mamdani promised.
Mayor Eric Adams also condemned the incident on social media, stating that antisemitism "has no place in our schools, our government, or our city, but it’s sadly what happens when too many normalize antisemitic rhetoric."
Zohran Mamdani was blamed by Republicans
Republican politicians blamed mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani for normalizing antisemitism in the city, with NY Congresswoman Elise Stefanik warning he was "ushering in the pro-terrorist antisemitic takeover of NYC aided and abetted by the Worst Governor in America, Kathy Hochul."
"The day after NYC elects a pro-Hamas antisemite for Mayor, Nazi swastikas are found painted on the walls of Magen David Yeshiva in Brooklyn," Stefanik said on social media.
Councilwoman Inna Vernikov also noted that the incident occurred after Mamdani was elected.
"The antisemites are emboldened. This is not a game," said Vernikov.
The United Jewish Appeal Federation of New York said in a statement that it was outraged by the incident and was working with local law enforcement.
"This act is a painful reminder of the rising tide of antisemitism that continues to threaten Jewish communities across New York," said UJA Federation NY.