NEW YORK CITY, NY - Authorities with the New York Police Department (NYPD) reported that someone vandalized the wall of a Manhattan subway station with hateful words.
The discriminatory message, which was written in black marker said, "Kill the Jews." It was written on a wall in the 34th Street-Herald Square station and an image of what appears to be a misshapen swastika accompanied the anti-Semitic message.
Police said that the vandalism was reported to the MTA around 7:20 p.m. on Wednesday, October 18th.
With a photo of the offensive vandalism, Rachel Kastner, a Long Island native who is currently living in Tel Aviv posted to Instagram, "And they claim that antisemitism and anti-Zionism are not the same."
By the time the NYPD was notified, the graffiti had already been removed. MTA spokesperson Michael Cortez said in a statement, "Bigotry will not be tolerated in the transit system. When disgusting acts of vandalism are identified, they are quickly removed."
According to the New York Post, the highly offensive message was discovered the same week as 2nd Avenue Deli on the Upper East Side, which is Jewish-owned, was defaced with a swastika.
The anti-Semitic attack took reportedly took place after the eatery posted pro-Israel content on their social media pages.
The owner of the eatery, Jeremy Lebewohl said, "It's sad that people just feel the need to say they hate Jews in 2023. That people can just be so open about it. That Jew hatred is out therein now people just feel more empowered to say it."
The owner said that although this was the first time a symbol of hate was plastered on his building, he also said that he "has always been prepared for that to happen."
On its Instagram page, the eatery post the hateful damage and wrote, "Thank you for reminding us that we are on the right side of history." The owner said in a statement, "This isn't just a fight about land. This isn't just a fight about Israel. This isn't just a fight with all the Jews of the world. This is a fight of good vs. evil."
Jeffrey Haberman, 74, who occasionally eats at the Jewish-owned deli said that the graffiti was "reprehensible and despicable."
He said that within the last month he knows of three synagogues that were vandalized, including the one he attends. He said that he is not worried for his own safety, but that the acts itself show how much influence the cause of Hamas has outside its borders.
He added, "This isn't by accident. Hamas has enough of a reach. People are sending very clear messages that they don't want Jews here. But, if you vandalize it will not make a difference. We are not leaving."
More offensive, hateful vandalism was later found across the street from the deli. The New York Post reported that swastikas plus a pentagram and Star of David were found scrawled faintly on several advertisements.
Lebewohl said, "I can't believe there's more swastikas across the street. I just hope they city realizes that when you hear people doing something wrong, saying something wrong, people can't be quiet."
He added, "It's horrible that anybody feels like it's OK to say that they hate anybody at any time. It's horribly triggering for people, for holocaust survivors, their families or anybody who has ever been scared to walk to streets and say who they are."
The discriminatory message, which was written in black marker said, "Kill the Jews." It was written on a wall in the 34th Street-Herald Square station and an image of what appears to be a misshapen swastika accompanied the anti-Semitic message.
Police said that the vandalism was reported to the MTA around 7:20 p.m. on Wednesday, October 18th.
With a photo of the offensive vandalism, Rachel Kastner, a Long Island native who is currently living in Tel Aviv posted to Instagram, "And they claim that antisemitism and anti-Zionism are not the same."
By the time the NYPD was notified, the graffiti had already been removed. MTA spokesperson Michael Cortez said in a statement, "Bigotry will not be tolerated in the transit system. When disgusting acts of vandalism are identified, they are quickly removed."
According to the New York Post, the highly offensive message was discovered the same week as 2nd Avenue Deli on the Upper East Side, which is Jewish-owned, was defaced with a swastika.
The anti-Semitic attack took reportedly took place after the eatery posted pro-Israel content on their social media pages.
The owner of the eatery, Jeremy Lebewohl said, "It's sad that people just feel the need to say they hate Jews in 2023. That people can just be so open about it. That Jew hatred is out therein now people just feel more empowered to say it."
The owner said that although this was the first time a symbol of hate was plastered on his building, he also said that he "has always been prepared for that to happen."
On its Instagram page, the eatery post the hateful damage and wrote, "Thank you for reminding us that we are on the right side of history." The owner said in a statement, "This isn't just a fight about land. This isn't just a fight about Israel. This isn't just a fight with all the Jews of the world. This is a fight of good vs. evil."
Jeffrey Haberman, 74, who occasionally eats at the Jewish-owned deli said that the graffiti was "reprehensible and despicable."
He said that within the last month he knows of three synagogues that were vandalized, including the one he attends. He said that he is not worried for his own safety, but that the acts itself show how much influence the cause of Hamas has outside its borders.
He added, "This isn't by accident. Hamas has enough of a reach. People are sending very clear messages that they don't want Jews here. But, if you vandalize it will not make a difference. We are not leaving."
More offensive, hateful vandalism was later found across the street from the deli. The New York Post reported that swastikas plus a pentagram and Star of David were found scrawled faintly on several advertisements.
Lebewohl said, "I can't believe there's more swastikas across the street. I just hope they city realizes that when you hear people doing something wrong, saying something wrong, people can't be quiet."
He added, "It's horrible that anybody feels like it's OK to say that they hate anybody at any time. It's horribly triggering for people, for holocaust survivors, their families or anybody who has ever been scared to walk to streets and say who they are."
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