A teenage anti-Israel demonstrator who vandalized a World War I monument in Central Park earlier this week has been arrested after being turned over to police by his father, NYPD and law enforcement officials said.
A 16-year-old boy was charged with third-degree criminal mischief, a felony, and graffiti, a misdemeanor, for allegedly defacing the 107th Infantry Memorial during Monday night’s disorderly demonstration.
The boy, a regular face at rallies organized by the anti-Israel group Within Our Lifetime, was first taken into custody after being handed over by his father on Thursday night, officials said.
NYPD Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry posted to X a blurry photo of a young vandal handcuffed and sitting on a bench in a police station.
“The despicable vandalism we saw at the World War I Memorial earlier this week will not go unpunished, nor will it go unpunished,” Mr Daughtry said. he tweeted this announced the arrest of one of the culprits.
“This is not just youthful hijinx, this is an act of sacrilege that undermines the freedoms that our heroes fought for and died for,” he added.
Officials say the boy attends Tottenville High School and has not been arrested before.
The war memorial was defaced by several vandals who scrawled “Gaza” and “Liberate Palestine” on the pedestal and placed anti-Israel stickers on the statue.
Another demonstrator burned an American flag in front of a statue depicting seven World War I infantrymen in combat.
Several others were seen climbing on top of the infantry and waving Palestinian flags.
The desecration of the monument outraged New Yorkers who visited the site Tuesday to see the damage firsthand.
“These people are insane and violent,” Michael Skoll, who has lived in the busy Manhattan neighborhood for 25 years, told the Post.
“Burning the flag is an anti-American act. It’s stupid,” he added. “It’s definitely not helpful to the Palestinians or the peace process. They’re people who don’t belong to the tradition of believing that America is a good place. It’s disgusting.”
Furious locals claimed the crowd of pro-Palestinian demonstrators were only hurting their cause with reckless vandalism.
“It’s terrible to treat World War I monuments the same way they are. It breaks your heart,” said Ron Zacher, 50.
“In this country, you have the right to express your opinion, but you must not destroy monuments that honor the heroes who died for our country.
“Some common sense is required,” he added. “Protesters are not supporting their own cause of destroying monuments and burning flags.”
On Tuesday, cleaning crews used power washers and biodegradable chemical cleaners to scrub away graffiti that read “Gaza” and “Free Palestine” left on the monument.
Anarchists also vandalized the Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman Memorial on nearby Grand Army Plaza on 59th Street on Monday night.
