Police have detained two 15-year-old boys suspected of spray-painting swastikas in a playground located in a predominantly Jewish area of Brooklyn for the second consecutive day.
One teen has been charged with two counts of aggravated harassment and two counts of hate crime-related vandalism. The other individual, described as the primary graffiti artist, faces 41 counts of similar charges, according to law enforcement.
The swastikas were found on slides, handball courts, and other play structures at Gravesend Park in Borough Park—a hotspot for Jewish children. This wave of vandalism took place at a large playground situated at the intersection of 56th Street and 18th Avenue.
On Tuesday night, officers reacted to a 911 call and discovered around 16 swastikas painted in red across the playground and handball court.
Later, on Wednesday morning, police responded to another 911 report and uncovered approximately 57 more swastikas in various colors, prompting a deeper investigation into the hate crime and inciting public outrage.
By Thursday, the offensive graffiti had been covered up.
The boys were charged as juveniles after police examined their social media profiles with assistance from field intelligence officers and located them at their residences.
Neither of the boys had a prior criminal record. Due to their age, police will not disclose the names of the suspects.
City Council President Julie Menin condemned the vandalism, labeling it “disgusting,” “deplorable,” and “unconscionable” during a visit to the park alongside community leaders.
Menin stressed that when young individuals are involved in such acts—57 swastikas drawn—there’s a clear responsibility for New York City schools and its government to educate youth about hate.
Surveillance footage helped law enforcement pinpoint the young suspects, although Menin noted that additional cameras are necessary within the park for enhanced security.
The NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force is conducting an ongoing investigation, as per Deputy Chief Charlie Minch, who oversees Brooklyn South Patrol.
While at the playground with friends, 14-year-old Billy Soto expressed his disapproval of the graffiti, stating that countless kids seem to misunderstand such actions, claiming they aren’t funny.
Menin highlighted the significance of her anti-Semitism legislative initiative, which aims to promote awareness within schools and combat discriminatory misinformation.
This five-point plan, proposed last week, includes expanding Holocaust education, reinforcing protest boundaries around schools and places of worship, funding security training for Jewish organizations, and establishing a dedicated hotline for reporting anti-Semitism to help shape future policy.
Menin intends to expedite the legislative process, with plans to introduce the bills on January 29th and hold a vote by February 12th.
Speakers noted that although only about 10% of New York City’s population identifies as Jewish, anti-Semitic incidents account for around 57% of reported hate crimes. They labeled this disparity an “immediate crisis,” stressing the importance of education as a preventive measure.
“It’s disgusting, it’s deplorable, it’s unconscionable. We won’t tolerate this,” Menin asserted.
