Recent events in New York City have seen Palestinian protesters vandalizing locations associated with the Brooklyn Museum and the United Nations. The protesters threw red paint across the entrances of these establishments in opposition to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
The Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, took to social media to announce that the police are investigating the incidents. The homes of museum director Anne Pasternak and members of the museum's board of trustees were targeted, with red paint splashed across their properties. Mayor Adams condemned the actions as overt antisemitism and emphasized that such behavior will not be tolerated in the city under any circumstances.
Aside from the Brooklyn Museum, buildings associated with the German consulate and the Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine to the United Nations were also vandalized. Flyers critical of the Palestinian Authority and its president, Mahmoud Abbas, were found scattered outside the latter location.
The New York Police Department is actively investigating the incidents, and further information is expected to be provided in due course. Both Palestinian and German diplomats have been contacted for comments on the matter.
Previous protests at the Brooklyn Museum have seen demonstrators setting up tents in the lobby and displaying banners in support of Palestine. However, City Comptroller Brad Lander has spoken out against these actions, stating that the museum has engaged in meaningful discussions around power, colonialism, and racism through its art.
Despite the protests, the Brooklyn Museum remains a significant cultural institution in New York City, located in the diverse neighborhood of Crown Heights. The recent acts of vandalism have sparked concerns about antisemitism and the safety of the community.
