The New York City Police Department (NYPD) has reported disturbing anti-NYPD graffiti in Greenpoint, Brooklyn that equated the NYPD with Nazis. According to police, the graffiti was spray-painted onto a police car and discovered early in the morning on August 26th. It included a swastika and the slogan “NAZIS=NYPD.”

NYPD, and particularly NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force, has responded swiftly and diligently to crimes targeting Jewish and other communities. ADL has recognized and honored the good work of NYPD, and condemns this vandalism targeting the police force.

Nazi analogies like these are inappropriate, historically inaccurate, and offensive, particularly to Holocaust survivors and their families. There are far more productive, appropriate, and lawful ways for community members to address grievances with NYPD.