Red swastikas were discovered on the front of a Brooklyn yeshiva early Wednesday, just hours after Zohran Mamdani was elected mayor of New York City.This sparked fears of a “new normalisation of antisemitism,” according to the New York Post. Police said security staff called 911 after finding the hateful symbols painted in red on the pillars and windows of Magen David Yeshiva on McDonald Avenue near Avenue S in Gravesend around 6:30 am The suspect was dressed entirely in black and fled on foot and is still on the loose. The new mayor-elect, Mamdani, condemned the act on X: “This is a disgusting and heartbreaking act of antisemitism, and it has no place in our beautiful city. As Mayor, I will always stand steadfast with our Jewish neighbors to root the scourge of antisemitism out of our city.” Jewish groups voiced concern following Mamdani’s election, pointing to his past anti-Israel activism. Sarah Forman, Executive Director of the New York Solidarity Network, said: “Tonight the quiet normalisation of antisemitism just got very loud. For years, Mayor-elect Mamdani’s activism was steeped in coded language about Jews, performative boycotts, exclusion, and overt hostility toward Israel. Now, his views gain a platform with real consequences for the city that is home to the largest Jewish community in the diaspora.”
