Vandals defaced a New York Jewish day school with swastika graffiti on Tuesday night, the New York Police Department and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul reported. A Jewish cemetery and an emergency medical-services dispatch center were also vandalized, they said.
The NYPD said it had found out about the graffiti on the Magen David Yeshiva day school in Brooklyn on Wednesday morning. The swastikas were spray-painted on multiple construction barriers, it said.
The school said the incident was a “shameful act of hate,” and that it was grateful for support from the NYPD and local, state, and federal elected officials.
Extra security funding for New York Jewish community
At a Wednesday press conference, Hochul met with faith leaders and politicians to denounce a spate of antisemitic incidents. In addition, antisemitic graffiti had been discovered overnight at a Hatzalah dispatch center and around Washington Cemetery, she said.
“To all of those in this community who are feeling anxious, especially the parents of the school, the children: Know that we stand here to protect you,” Hochul said. “That is my solemn commitment to every one of you.”
“I view what happened today as an act of terrorism, a violation of our safety and our security… When we stand together, we are one community,” she said. “An attack on one is an attack on all of us, and you will not get away with this.”
Hochul said she was increasing security funding for Jewish sites from $70 million to $90m. in the next budget.
Mayor Eric Adams condemned the incident. Antisemitism “has no place in our schools, our government, or our city, but it’s sadly what happens when too many normalize antisemitic rhetoric,” he posted on social media.
Republican politicians blamed Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani for normalizing antisemitism in the city.
Mamdani is “ushering in the pro-terrorist antisemitic takeover of NYC aided and abetted by the Worst Governor in America Kathy Hochul,” Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-New York) posted on social media.
“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,” she wrote.
New York City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov said the incident had occurred after Mamdani was elected.
“The antisemites are emboldened,” she said. “This is not a game.”
The UJA-Federation of New York said 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,” it said.