Antisemitic Vandals Deface Homes of Brooklyn Museum’s Jewish Director, Board Members By David Zimmermann
The homes of the Brooklyn Museum’s Jewish director and board members were defaced Tuesday night by antisemitic vandals, who left a banner at the director’s house that called her a “WHITE SUPREMACIST ZIONIST.”
Social-media posts show the front of Anne Pasternak’s home spray-painted red, with the antisemitic sign in the foreground claiming she “funds genocide” — an apparent reference to the operations Israel is carrying out to eradicate Hamas in Gaza. The words, “Blood on your hands,” could be seen on Pasternak’s front sidewalk as well.
“We are deeply troubled by these horrible acts,” a spokesperson for the Brooklyn Museum told National Review. The museum spokesperson said a police report was filed.
In New York, vandalism is punishable by possible jail time and significant fines, depending on the cost of the damaged property.
Local officials on both sides of the political aisle responded to the incident Wednesday morning, condemning the late-night vandalism.
Lincoln Restler, a Democratic member of the New York City Council, said it was “disgusting” and “despicable.” Restler added that he already spoke with Brooklyn Museum board members, staff, and the NYPD, which is currently investigating the crime. The NYPD did not respond to a request for comment.
Joseph Borelli, the Republican minority leader of the New York City Council, also issued a statement on social media: “Wow. More Kristallnacht behavior from Hamasniks in NYC in 2024. There is no ‘both sides.’ Just savagery. It doesn’t matter how woke the @brooklynmuseum goes, nothing satisfies the bloodlust of the anti-Jew left. Looking forward to the city council’s upcoming debate on this.”
The Brooklyn Museum has been the target of antisemitic demonstrations as recently as last week, when anti-Israel protesters raised a Hamas flag and chanted, “We don’t want no Zionists here.”
In late May, one of the art museum’s outdoor sculptures were vandalized with graffiti. Among the derogatory phrases spray-painted on the yellow OY/YO Statue were “Ur museum kills kids in Palestine!” and “F*** ur bulls**t museum Gaza will be free.”
Protesters have called for the Brooklyn Museum to divest from Israeli companies. The institution has a corporate partnership with the Bank of New York Mellon, which holds investments in an Israeli weapons manufacturer named Elbit Systems and has supported the Friends of Israel Defense Force Donor Advised Fund. The museum also displays art featuring Israel and has acquired ancient Jewish art as part of its collection.
Since October 7, New York has seen an unprecedented rise in antisemitism. Such incidents rose 110 percent last year, marking a new record in the state, according to the Anti-Defamation League’s April report. The total number of reported incidents amounted to 1,218 in New York in 2023, equivalent to nearly 14 percent of all antisemitic incidents nationwide.
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