Multiple acts of vandalism across NYC linked to war in the Middle East
UPPER EAST SIDE (WABC) -- Police are investigating a string of vandalism in two boroughs targeting the Palestinian Authority building on the Upper East Side and homes of Jewish leaders of the Brooklyn Museum.
"They're totally misguided, have no sense of history, and are barking up the wrong tree and causing mayhem when they should be actually protesting in peace," one Upper East Side resident told Eyewitness News.
Surveillance video shows people getting out of a U-Haul truck on East 65th Street around 6 a.m. outside of the Palestinian Authority.
More than a dozen people walked up the street, spilling red liquid on the street and sidewalk, hanging banners and scattering leaflets calling for more violence against Israel.
One man, here on business from Israel, was appalled at the sight.
"I lost the family members in October 7th... next to the border with Gaza. Israelis, they come as a state. We all the time to just to seek peace and for me to see something like that to you. It's breaking my heart," Nir Yahav said.
Meantime in Brooklyn, red paint was splattered at the Brooklyn Museum director's home. Vandals accused her of being a white supremacist, Zionist, and having blood on her hands..
Majority Leader Chuck Schumer addressed the Senate, showing them the pictures of the vandalism.
"Every single American needs to see these pictures. This is the face of hatred Jewish-Americans made to feel unsafe in their own home. Just because they are Jewish." He said. "This is not even close to free speech. It is intimidation. It is scapegoating. It is dehumanization. Invasive attacks loaded with the threat of looming violence. It is vile. It is nasty. It is un-American."
The museum's Jewish board members' homes were also targeted.
City Comptroller Brad Lander posted on X (formerly Twitter) that vandals defaced the homes of the Jewish director and several Jewish board members of the Brooklyn museum.
Detectives say five suspects were caught on video. They're investigating if all of this morning's crimes are connected.
Mayor Eric Adams condemned the vandalism, saying this is not a peaceful protest or free speech, calling it a crime, overt, unacceptable antisemitism.
Governor Kathy Hochul added "This is an abhorrent act of antisemitism and it has no place in New York or anywhere else."
The Brooklyn Museum was also the site of a pro-Palestinian protest earlier this month that ended with 34 arrests.
To make tensions worse, video also surfaced on Wednesday, capturing a call and response on a No. 5 subway train, where people could be heard chanting, "raise your hands if you're a Zionist!" That incident happened on Monday.
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