US EditionDozens of swastikas painted on playground in Jewish area of Brooklyn prompts hate crime investigation
- On January 22, 2026, investigators opened a probe after 57 swastikas were found at a children's playground in Gravesend Park playground, Brooklyn, and the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating it as a hate crime.
- The playground serves Orthodox Jewish families in Borough Park, home to 46,000 Jewish adults and 50,000 children, with 45% of households including a Jewish person, according to UJA-Federation of New York.
- The painted symbols covered playground slides and a handball court in red, yellow and blue paint, and by afternoon Parks Department crew members cleaned the site using paint thinner and light grey paint.
- Local religious leaders demanded arrests and accountability, with Rabbi Edgar Gluck saying `They got away with it once and tried to get away with it again` as City Council Speaker Julie Menin plans to speak at Gravesend Park.
- Broader data show antisemitic incidents accounted for 57% of hate crimes in 2025, while Jewish New Yorkers make up 10% of residents; ADL and leaders said the repeat attack increases fear among Holocaust survivors in Borough Park.
22 Articles
22 Articles
2 teens arrested for painting 73 swastikas on playground in Brooklyn area with many Jews
A version of this piece first ran as part of the New York Jewish Week’s daily newsletter, rounding up the latest on politics, culture, food and what’s new with Jews in the city. Sign up here to get it in your inbox. Mamdani defends Mahmoud Khalil, facing deportation to Algeria Mayor Zohran Mamdani is standing by the Palestinian protest leader and Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil after the White House said he will be rearrested and se…
Antisemitic vandalism in NYC park leads to 2 arrests
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) — Dozens of painted swastikas appeared around a park in Brooklyn on two different days this week. On Monday and Wednesday, nearly 100 swastikas were found on the slide and handball court of Gravesend Park. Some were red, some were yellow and others were blue. What used to be a calm walk [...]
Action News Now
KESQTwo teens arrested after swastikas painted on playground in Jewish area of Brooklyn
(CNN) — Two teenagers were arrested Thursday after dozens of swastikas were painted on a playground in a predominantly Jewish area of Brooklyn, New York, this week, the New York Police Department said.
Dozens of swastikas painted on playground in Jewish area of Brooklyn prompts hate crime investigation
By Eric Levenson, August Phillips, CNN (CNN) — Dozens of swastikas were painted on a playground in a predominantly Jewish area of Brooklyn, New York, in two separate incidents this week, prompting a hate crime probe, the New York Police Department said. Gov. Kathy Hochul on X called the vandalism “a depraved act of antisemitism,” which comes during an extended period of such threats to the city’s Jewish community. Officers responded on Monday to…
2 teens charged after allegedly spray-painting swastikas on Brooklyn playground
Two teens were arrested and charged after allegedly spray painting dozens of swastikas and other antisemitic language at a Brooklyn playground where many Jewish children play, according to police. A hate crime investigation was launched after nearly five dozen of the hate symbols were found painted on walls, a court and a slide at Gravesend Park in Borough Park late...
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 60% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
