Adam Yauch Park is a corner of green space dedicated to the late Beastie Boys rapper, a.k.a. MCA, in his home neighborhood of Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn. Yesterday, anti-Semitic vandals spray-painted the park’s playground equipment with a pair of poorly drawn swastikas and the slogan “Go Trump.”
Yauch, like his bandmates in Beastie Boys, came from a Jewish background. City councilman Brad Lander condemned the graffiti as “hatred,” saying it would be investigated and painted over immediately:
Yet more hatred & anti-Semitism from Trump supporters. Swastikas on the playground equipment in Adam Yauch Park in BK Heights. #NeverIsNow pic.twitter.com/Xbcwo4enfF
— Brad Lander (@bradlander) November 18, 2016
NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force and @NYCParks staff on-site immediately. Will be painted over tonight. No place for hate. We will not be cowed.
— Brad Lander (@bradlander) November 18, 2016
In response to the vandalism, New York state senator Daniel Squadron and congresswoman Nydia Velázquez announced a “stand up against hate” rally in the park on Sunday, November 19. Beastie Boys and punk icon Kathleen Hanna also tweeted in support of the rally.
Hate has no place in Brooklyn, NYC, or our country. Join me & colleagues Sunday to stand against hate messages. 11:30, Adam Yauch Park, BK pic.twitter.com/BZ95sx9HwF
— Daniel Squadron (@DanielSquadron) November 18, 2016
The anti-Semitic graffiti in Adam Yauch Park is only the latest prominent report of targeted harassment or hate crimes since the election of Donald Trump. The Southern Poverty Law Center’s updated tally now includes 701 incidents nationwide since Election Day, including more than 200 tagged as “Trump” or “swastika.”