Furious New Yorkers on Tuesday condemned “disgusting” anti-Israel protesters who desecrated a historic World War I memorial in Central Park and burned an American flag, saying an unruly mob He said it was “anti-American” and was only spreading more hatred.
After the star-studded Met Gala was held nearby and a wave of protests descended into chaos late Monday, several Upper East Side residents stopped by to see the carnage for themselves.
“These people are just crazy 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.”
During Monday night’s chaos, anarchists attacked the World War I 107th Infantry Memorial in Central Park and Civil War Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman’s monument in nearby Grand Army Plaza on 59th Street. destroyed the monument.
Separately, at least one America-hating vandal set an American flag on fire.
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 honoring the heroes who died for our country.
“Some common sense is required,” he added. “The protesters are not supporting their own cause of destroying monuments and burning the flag. I don’t know about the sacrifices made.”
“I don’t really think about it on the side of Palestinian supporters,” Skoll said.
“It’s pure violence, it’s pure stupidity.”
Cleaners arrived at the World War I memorial early Tuesday morning and used power washers and biodegradable chemical cleaners to scrub away graffiti that read “Gaza” and “Free Palestine”.
The bronze monument, sculpted by Karl Irava and depicting seven World War I infantrymen in action, was dedicated in 1927.
There was also a sticker with the Palestinian flag that read “Stop the Genocide”. End apartheid. “Free Palestine” was still scattered all over the park benches along Fifth Avenue.
“The protesters are just spreading hate,” said Robin Cohen, another Upper East Side local.
“If people didn’t fight for our freedoms, we wouldn’t have freedom of speech and freedom of protest,” Cohen continued. “Don’t you think they should be arrested for defacing monuments to those who fought for our freedom?”
Police were still searching for the vandals on Tuesday, with NYPD Deputy Chief of Operations Kaz Daughtry vowing to track down those responsible for the “heinous crime.”
“We will do whatever it takes until the perpetrators are brought to justice,” he tweeted. “Destroying monuments that are symbols of remembrance and honor is not only a criminal act, but also a disrespect for the sacrifices of those who served our country.
“Let this serve as a warning to anyone who dares to desecrate our city’s landmarks. There will be consequences.”
The destruction unfolded after a mob of more than 1,000 protesters left Hunter College at the City University of New York and tried to storm the Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art as part of the “Days of Rage” protests.
At least 27 people were arrested near Madison Avenue and East 83rd Street as protests broke out.
After being stopped by police and diverted to Central Park, the anarchists began defacing the monument.
“I’m really not happy with the desecration of the war memorial,” Mayor Eric Adams said after being asked by reporters about the recent wave of violence.
“This anti-American act makes me uncomfortable. I’m not going to sit around. We will continue to protect this city.”
Local construction worker Domenico Testani, 68, added:
“It makes no sense,” Testani said. “The World War I memorial has nothing to do with what is happening in Palestine.
“It is understood that they have the right to protest, but please use common sense.”
Additional reporting by Craig McCarthy
