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Swastikas Painted Across Two Queens Parks Prompt NYPD Hate-Crime Probes

Fresh cases highlight NYPD data showing Jews as the top targets of confirmed hate crimes in April.

In the first anti-Semitic act, five swastikas were found painted on the ground, over signs and other objects at the corner of Highland Boulevard and Vermont Place near the Ridgewood Reservoir, cops said. 
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Overview

  • Officers documented at least 11 swastikas in Highland Park and Forest Park, found Sunday on signs, pavement, and an underpass in Queens.
  • NYPD detectives are investigating both park incidents as possible hate crimes, and no arrests have been announced as investigators work to determine any link.
  • NYC Parks staff recorded each site and removed all of the graffiti by noon Monday, following calls from city leaders to quickly clean the defaced areas.
  • City Council leaders condemned the vandalism and pointed to a new five-point plan focused on education, prevention, and accountability to counter antisemitism.
  • The park cases followed a May 4 spree that targeted two synagogues and private homes, for which police released images of four suspects, and come as NYPD data show Jews made up roughly 60% of confirmed hate-crime victims in April.