Columbia University official's NYC home vandalized with red paint, Nazi and Hamas symbols
NEW YORK -- Vandals drew Nazi and Hamas symbols and left bugs at a Columbia University administrator's home in Brooklyn, according to New York City police.
Inverted triangles, symbols Hamas uses to identify Israeli targets and that Nazis used to tag prisoners during the Holocaust, were painted in red on the building in Brooklyn Heights where Columbia COO Cas Holloway lives, police said Thursday.
"Straight out of the 1930s Nazi playbook"
Live insects were left in the lobby, as well as a letter with a noose at the top that appeared to be in response to the NYPD arresting pro-Palestinian students on Columbia's campus.
"This disgusting and despicable act is straight out of the 1930s Nazi playbook," CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York Mark Treyger said on X.
The letter addressed to Holloway stated, "You signed off on the brutalization of Columbia students because they stood against the genocide of Palestinians."
"Even when the crickets are gone from your apartment, the memory will remain," the letter continued. It told Holloway "Do not expel those students. Divest from Israel, divest from genocide, it's all we seek of you."
Columbia's president recently announced she is considering giving campus safety personnel authority to arrest people after protests and unrest on the Manhattan campus during the spring semester.
The vandals also left a fake wanted poster with Holloway's picture, accusing him of "crimes against Palestine, students and lack of morals."
"I'm all for people protesting, but this is too far"
Holloway did not appear to be home when the vandalism was discovered. Other residents of the building were forced to walk by the red paint in order to leave.
"It's startling to walk out the door and see that," one person who lives in the building said. "It's awful. I don't know, I feel like it has to stop. I'm all for people protesting, but this is too far."
"Angry, I braced myself to come down because they said that I have to use the laundry room entrance, which has stairs up and down to it, that I can't use," said Bob Wachewski, who uses a wheelchair.
"This is a form of hate crime too, and people are protesting things that they feel strongly about. OK, but this is not the way to do that," said Bob Buckholz, another Brooklyn resident.
"I hope this doesn't get held against a lot of people who are standing for collective action in favor of Palestine," said Ashwin Singh, another Brooklyn resident.
A Columbia University spokesperson said, "Columbia unequivocally condemns vandalism, threats, and personal attacks. Anyone engaging in such activity will be reported to law enforcement and face appropriate discipline. Every member of our community deserves to feel safe, valued, and able to thrive."
Holloway did not return our calls seeking comment.
Police searching for surveillance video of suspects
Police were canvassing for surveillance video to determine who was involved. So far, the incident is being investigated as criminal mischief and has not been deemed a hate crime.
Police sources said detectives are looking for four people who fled the scene. They said one smashed the glass door with a hammer, one released live insects in the lobby and two splattered the paint, including the inverted triangles, on the doorway.
Police have not connected this to any other incidents, but it resembles another red paint incident just blocks away at the homes of Jewish executives of the Brooklyn Museum in June. NYPD arrested two people in that case and more suspects are being sought.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or via DM on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.