[Karah]
THREE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INDICTED ON HATE CRIME CHARGES IN CONNECTION WITH VANDALIZING THE HOMES OF BROOKLYN MUSEUM OFFICIALS DURING PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTS EARLIER THIS SUMMER.
PROTESTERS HUNG ANTISEMITIC BANNERS AND VANDALIZED THE BROOKLYN MUSEUM’S JEWISH DIRECTOR AND BOARD MEMBERS’ HOMES – ACCORDING TO OFFICIALS.
PROSECUTORS SAY THE THREE MEN ARE ALL RESIDENTS OF NEW YORK – AND FACE MULTIPLE CHARGES – INCLUDING MAKING A TERRORISTIC THREAT AS A HATE CRIME AND CONSPIRACY.
BROOKLYN’S DISTRICT ATTORNEY SAYS THE MEN – ALONG WITH OTHERS WHO HAVE NOT YET BEEN ARRESTED – TARGETED BOARD MEMBERS BASED ON WHETHER THEIR NAMES “SOUNDED JEWISH.”
AMONG THE THINGS SPRAYED IN RED PAINT WERE SYMBOLS LINKED TO HAMAS AND SLOGANS LIKE “WHITE SUPREMACIST ZIONIST.”
SECURITY CAMERAS WERE ALSO SPRAY PAINTED IN AN EFFORT TO GET AWAY WITH IT.
BUT PROSECUTORS SAY SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE STILL CAPTURED THEM CARRYING SUPPLIES TO AND FROM A VEHICLE.
THE DA SAYING –
“These defendants allegedly targeted museum board members with threats and anti-Semitic graffiti based on their perceived heritage. These actions are not protests; they are hate crimes.”
THE VANDALISM COMES AMID RISING TENSIONS AT THE MUSEUM, WHERE PROTESTERS EARLIER IN THE YEAR ACCUSED THE INSTITUTION OF BEING COMPLICIT IN ISRAEL’S MILITARY ACTIONS IN GAZA. THE MUSEUM HAS DENIED THOSE CLAIMS.
DEFENSE ATTORNEYS ARE PUSHING BACK –
WITH ONE ATTORNEY TELLING THE ASSOCIATED PRESS THE CHARGES REFLECT A BROADER TREND OF LABELING “PALESTINE SOLIDARITY ACTIONS” AS “HATE CRIMES.”
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