|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
NEW YORK — Swastikas were found scrawled on the walls and windows of Magen David Yeshiva in Brooklyn early Wednesday, a day after Zohran Mamdani’s historic election as New York City’s next mayor. The act quickly drew condemnation and fueled political debate over rising antisemitism in the city.
Surveillance footage captured a vandal dressed in black, wearing a fedora, and riding a bicycle defacing the building at around 6:30 a.m. The hateful graffiti appeared just hours after Mamdani’s victory speech, adding tension to an already charged political moment.
Jews continue to be the most frequently targeted group in New York City hate crimes, accounting for 62% of all bias incidents reported last month. The incident’s proximity to the election led many to connect the timing to growing concerns over antisemitic rhetoric.
Brooklyn Assemblymember Kalman Yeger said on X, “As the new guy was taking his victory lap last night, this was happening in Brooklyn.” U.S. Representative Nicole Malliotakis urged Mamdani to “unequivocally condemn this hateful graffiti” and ensure the protection of all New Yorkers.
Mamdani, a vocal critic of Israel and member of the Democratic Socialists of America, quickly denounced the vandalism. “It has no place in our beautiful city,” he said. “As mayor, I will stand steadfast with our Jewish neighbors to root the scourge of antisemitism out of our city.”
Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams also condemned the act. “To all those in this community who are feeling anxious, especially the parents and children, know that we stand here to protect you,” Hochul said during a press briefing in Brooklyn.
Leading Jewish organizations expressed caution toward Mamdani’s incoming administration. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) announced a new program to “track and monitor” City Hall policies, appointments, and decisions relating to Jewish concerns.
ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said Mamdani’s past associations and rhetoric “demonstrate animosity toward the Jewish state,” while reaffirming that his organization will monitor any potential bias from City Hall.
At his first press conference as mayor-elect, Mamdani addressed the concerns directly. “I look forward to being the mayor for every person that calls this city home, including Jewish New Yorkers who did not vote for me,” he said.
While Mamdani’s allies hailed his victory as a triumph for progressive politics and Palestinian advocacy, the graffiti incident underscored the fragility of intercommunal trust. As investigations continue, New York finds itself at a crossroads between celebration and anxiety — united in condemnation, yet divided by suspicion.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members