New York, NY, November 14, 2016 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today expressed deep concern over a wave of anti-Semitic vandalism that has reportedly struck five times over consecutive days in several areas across New York State, saying it, “breeds fear and fuels anxiety.”

This morning, the phrase “No Jews” was spray-painted on a street in front of a home for sale and on the home’s real estate sign on the border of Clarkstown and Ramapo in Rockland County. On November 13, a swastika was spray-painted onto a street in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, and a large swastika and the words “white power” were discovered spray-painted on a walkway and across a wall in White Plains in Westchester County. On November 12, several students at The New School in Manhattan awoke to find swastikas scrawled on their dorm room doors, and on November 11, a swastika with the word “Trump” was discovered in the common area of a dorm on the SUNY Geneseo campus in upstate New York.

“The spate of anti-Semitic vandalism that has struck communities in New York – from upstate New York to the boroughs of New York City is deeply concerning,” said Evan Bernstein, ADL New York Regional Director. “The appearance of swastikas on college campuses and public property are searing and breeds fear and fuels anxiety that has risen since the end of the presidential election.

“We have been gratified by the strong statements of support that have come from our elected officials in response to the hate,” Mr.  Bernstein said. “Both Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio have been outspoken and clear that these acts of hate are unacceptable and have no place in our communities.”

Last week, ADL responded to several incidents of hate in the days following the election, including the defacement of a softball field with bigoted anti-Semitic graffiti in Wellsville, New York, and the vandalism of a prayer room for Muslim students at New York University in Brooklyn.

 

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world’s leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.  Follow us on Twitter: @ADL_NY