Pro-Palestinian activists vandalized the homes of Jewish officials and buildings connected to the Brooklyn Museum, Germany, and the Palestinian Authority with red paint. Mayor Eric Adams condemned the actions as overt antisemitism and called it unacceptable in New York City. The museum spokesperson stated that the targeted officials have Jewish family members, and the museum has always supported peaceful protest and dialogue, denouncing violence and intimidation.
Red paint was also found on the German consulate and the United Nations mission in New York City, as well as on a headquarters for Palestinian diplomats. Flyers criticizing the Palestinian Authority and its president were scattered outside the building. The responsible individuals behind these acts of vandalism were not immediately identified, and the NYPD is investigating the incidents. The protests were organized by Within Our Lifetime and other groups against the Brooklyn Museum, accusing them of being complicit in Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
City Comptroller Brad Lander spoke out against the protests, stating that the Brooklyn Museum has addressed questions of power, colonialism, racism, and the role of art. He criticized the vandals for engaging in antisemitism and harming the cause they claim to support. The Brooklyn Museum has a history of being the target of protests and ideological confrontations, including threats of closure by former Mayor Rudy Giuliani in 1999 over artwork he deemed disrespectful to Catholics.
Within Our Lifetime also organized a large demonstration outside a New York City exhibit memorializing victims of a Hamas attack on the Tribe of Nova music festival. The group described it as “Zionist propaganda” and dismissed the festival as “a rave next to a concentration camp.” The protest drew criticism from various politicians, including U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who condemned the targeting and dehumanization of Jews displayed at the protest as antisemitism. The actions of the protestors have been deemed offensive and unacceptable across the political spectrum.
The incidents of vandalism come in the wake of previous protests at the Brooklyn Museum and other New York City museums, where activists have raised concerns about the museum’s connections to Israel’s military actions in Gaza. The escalating tensions have raised concerns about the safety of Jewish individuals and the need for peaceful protest and open dialogue. The NYPD continues to investigate the acts of vandalism and will provide further information regarding the incidents once the responsible individuals are identified.
