Mayor Eric Adams made a bold statement on Tuesday, personally donating $5,000 towards the reward for information leading to the capture of those responsible for defacing a local war memorial with anti-Israel slogans.
The incident, which occurred overnight, saw the historic Central Park World War I monument vandalized with spray paint and stickers.
Standing in front of the monument at a press conference, Adams declared, “In spite of the unpopular notion, I’m going to say it, ‘I love America.’ We cannot remain silent when our symbols of freedom are desecrated by individuals who clearly hate our country and way of life.” He emphasized the importance of speaking out against such acts, stating, “I am not going to remain silent because our silence gives the belief that everything is OK.”
Adams, showing his commitment, added, “I want to show all New Yorkers that our city will not tolerate chaos and disorder.” He further announced his donation in honor of his late uncle, a Vietnam War veteran.
His contribution supplements the $10,000 offered by Crime Stoppers, making the total reward $15,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. Adams, alongside police officials and city commissioners, announced the distribution of fliers featuring images of the perpetrators, who were part of a violent protest against Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Describing the incident as a top priority, Adams assured, “We are going to canvas this area. We are going to treat this crime with the seriousness it deserves.” He urged witnesses to come forward with any information.
The vandalism, which also included the burning of an American flag, was part of a larger protest that was stopped by police before reaching the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the ongoing Met Gala. Instead, the mob targeted the 107th Infantry Memorial and another Civil War-era statue in the park, both of which were subsequently cleaned.
Zach Iscol, a former Marine and the city’s Emergency Management commissioner, spoke emotionally about taking his son to Normandy, France, and reflected on the sacrifices made in wars. James Hendon, the city’s Veterans Services Commissioner, lamented the irony that those who fought and died for freedom would do so again for the rights of those who defaced the monument and burned the flag.