Image: Instagram@/jewishoncampus
Hateful graffiti containing antisemitic, anti-Indian, and racist messages was discovered this week inside New York University’s Bern Dibner Library in downtown Brooklyn, police said.According to authorities, the graffiti, written in pen on a wall inside the library at 4 MetroTech Center, included a swastika and profanities targeting multiple ethnic groups, including Jews and Indians. Police also said the messages contained anti-Black language, as cited by the New York Post. Photos of the graffiti were shared on Instagram by an on-campus Jewish group.In a statement, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi condemned the incident, calling the graffiti deeply disturbing and unacceptable. He said acts of hatred and intimidation have no place on college campuses or in society and urged a full investigation. Krishnamoorthi also called for unity in confronting antisemitism, anti-Indian hate, racism, and all forms of bigotry so that students can learn and live without fear.“The hateful graffiti discovered at NYU’s Bern Dibner Library, including antisemitic symbols and slurs targeting Indian students and other communities, is deeply disturbing and wholly unacceptable. Acts of hatred and intimidation have no place on our campuses or anywhere in our society. This incident must be fully investigated, and we must remain united in confronting antisemitism, anti-Indian hate, racism, and all forms of bigotry so every student can learn and live free from fear,” Krishnamoorthi said through a statement. The graffiti first came to light through a joint Instagram post on Tuesday by the national and NYU chapters of Jewish on Campus, which detailed the derogatory messages targeting Jewish people and has since received more than 1,000 likes.Daniela Dreifach, a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences and co-president of NYU’s Jewish on Campus chapter, told Washington Square News that while the incident was “alarming,” she appreciated the administration’s efforts to ensure that Jewish students feel safe and heard.Fountain Walker, NYU’s vice president for global campus safety, condemned the graffiti and said the NYPD had classified the incident as a hate crime, according to WSN, the university’s student newspaper.“The abhorrent graffiti included hateful rhetoric directed at Blacks, hateful rhetoric directed at Indians and hateful antisemitic rhetoric,” Walker said. “Our Department of Campus Safety, in conjunction with our Title VI coordinator, is vigorously investigating this incident.”Police said the incident remains under investigation.
