A slew of consulates representing various countries across the Big Apple were defaced Wednesday by pro-Palestine activists, authorities and the protesters themselves said.
The vandalism occurred at the same time in which bigots defaced the homes of several Brooklyn Museum board members with antisemitic graffiti, though at this point a possible connection between both sprees of vandalism has not yet been established.
According to police sources, cops are on the hunt for suspects who vandalized the German Consulate during the early hours of June 12.
The group of four individuals doused the entrance of 871 UN Plaza with fake blood at around 3:35 a.m. Wednesday morning, police said. They also stuck propaganda posters on the glass before fleeing in a dark-colored vehicle.
Those responsible said that they are seeking an official apology from the German government for their participation in what they called a “genocidal assault on Gaza.”
The NYPD is investigating the incident as a hate crime. However, those responsible for the vandalism insisted in a statement that their act was not about hate, but rather protesting the mounting death toll in the Middle East. But in their statement, they used terms like “intifada,” a word used often as a rally cry for war against Israel, which they also referred to as a “Zionist settler state.”
“Through our actions we continue to globalize the intifada. We locate complicity in the genocidal campaign against Palestinians among all nations who refuse to cut ties with the Zionist settler state, refuse to support Palestinian freedom and the right to return, and profit from the attempted annihilation of Palestinian people,” those behind the incident wrote in a statement.
The group also claimed responsibility for similar acts of vandalism at other local consulates.
At the U.S Office of Palestinian Affairs, located on 115 East 65th St., activists dropped banners reading “No Two-State, Falasteen Forever”; Falasteen is the Arabic word for Palestine.
Also, at the Egyptian Consulate, located at 866 UN Plaza, activists struck in a bizarre way by releasing live crickets into the building.
The protest group also gathered outside the Israeli Consulate, at 800 2nd Avenue, Wednesday, where they burned American and Israeli flags.
Anyone with information regarding the incidents or the vandals’ whereabouts can call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (for Spanish, dial 888-57-PISTA). You can also submit tips online at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, or on X (formerly Twitter) @NYPDTips. All calls and messages are kept confidential.
