Pro-Palestinian vandals target homes of Brooklyn Museum trustees with red paint, police sources say

NEW YORK — Pro-Palestinian demonstrators splashed red paint on the street Wednesday morning on the Upper East Side, and the NYPD is looking into at least four other incidents that may be related.

Police sources tell CBS New York investigators believe the group targeted the homes of Brooklyn Museum trustees, following a pro-Palestinian demonstration at the museum last week. 

“We are deeply troubled by these horrible acts of vandalism targeting museum leadership,” the museum said in a statement. “For two centuries, the Brooklyn Museum has worked to foster mutual understanding through art and culture, and we have always supported peaceful protest and open, respectful dialogue. Violence, vandalism, and intimidation have no place in that discourse.”

About 15 protesters threw paint and papers from a U-Haul and then fled around 6 a.m. Wednesday on East 65th Street between Lexington and Park avenues, sources say. Surveillance video shows a U-Haul with people hanging off the back as it drives down East 65th Street.

The location is home to the Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, which says it works to promote Palestinian interests. Flyers that were found on the scene read in part, “The Palestinian Authority does not represent the Palestinian people, long live the intifada.”

Staff at the organization told CBS New York “no comment.”

The vandals left behind buckets that were filled with an oil-based paint and some pieces of debris or concrete, which investigators believe were intended to cause damage, sources say. Police vehicles were also defaced with graffiti.

Some people who live in the area said they weren’t able to access their cars, and others said they had to miss appointments. 

“My office is literally in the middle of this block. I’m an obstetrician and I’ve got a lot of pregnant women coming in,” one person said.   

“People need to have peace with each other, but that’s life, and they did very [much] damage to the street,” said another person.

“I am from Israel, I lost family members on Oct. 7 … and I feel very sorry for what happened. For me to see something like this here in Manhattan is breaking my heart,” another person added. “Hopefully, we will get into a peace process, but as it looks right now, we are very far from it.”

“I saw all the tape and all the paper on the ground, and the cops everywhere. I know what’s on the street. I know the Palestinian Authority is on the street, so I wasn’t surprised,” one person said.

NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force investigating multiple incidents

The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating at least five incidents — three in Manhattan and two in Brooklyn — but it has not confirmed whether they were connected. Police sources say investigators are also looking into another incident on Long Island.

The NYPD released photos and videos showing two people wanted in connection with one of the incidents in Brooklyn. 

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander said on social media the vandals defaced the homes of the museum’s board members with red paint, adding the “cowards who did this are way over the line.” A week ago, pro-Palestinian demonstrators occupied the museum, calling for its board to disclose any Israel-related investments and to divest.

Neighbors said they’re deeply disturbed.

“It’s an act of blatant antisemitism, and it’s terrorism,” one person said.

“Protesters are uninformed, or they don’t want to think about why they’re protesting, and if they did, they would not support Hamas. They would feel very sorry for the Palestinian people,” said another.

NYPD sources say the vandalism matches similar protests organized by the group Within Our Lifetime, but a representative told CBS New York they did not organize this.

Police say three people also burned flags, including an American flag, outside the Israeli Consulate on the East Side around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.

The acts of vandalism have not been labeled a hate crime, but that categorization has not been ruled out, according to a high-ranking police source. A hate crime would raise the charges from vandalism or criminal mischief to a felony, which carries a stiffer penalty. 

“This is a crime, and it’s overt, unacceptable antisemitism”

Mayor Eric Adams also posted about the incidents on social media, calling them a crime. 

“This is not peaceful protest or free speech. This is a crime, and it’s overt, unacceptable antisemitism. These actions will never be tolerated in New York City for any reason,” he wrote.

The mayor offered his apologies to Brooklyn Museum Director Anne Pasternak and its board members. 

“I spoke to Anne this morning and committed that this hate will not stand in our city. The NYPD is investigating and will bring the criminals responsible here to justice,” he wrote. 

A spokesperson for the museum later said Pasternak is Jewish but the two board members who were targeted are not. 

Police said no one was hurt Wednesday and no arrests have been made.

Anyone with information about the vandalism is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or via DM on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.