Brooklyn, NY - On Wednesday, November 5, 2025, Senator Sam Sutton joined together with Governor Kathy Hochul, Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris, State Senator Stephen Chan, Assemblymember William Colton, Assemblymember Nily Rozic, City Councilmember Susan Zhuang, JCRC CEO Mark Treyger, Teach Coalition CEO Sydney Altfield and Imam Ahmed Ali Uzer of the NYC Commission on Racial Equity, to condemn antisemitic graffiti found overnight at Magen David Yeshivah, a Hatzalah dispatch center, and around Washington Cemetery, the largest Jewish cemetery in Brooklyn.

In a moment already defined by unease, this isn’t just vandalism. It’s a disgusting and cowardly attack on every citizen of New York and the values we stand for.  When hate defiles a school and a cemetery - places devoted to learning and to memory - it cannot be met with silence or half-measures.

“Our institutions may have been defaced, but our spirit will never be broken. The Jewish community of New York will continue to stand strong, proud, and unshaken. No parent should ever have to explain this kind of hate to their children, and no child should ever need comfort after seeing symbols of the most vile crimes in modern history in their own neighborhood.” said Senator Sutton

“The Magen David Yeshivah in Brooklyn was one of several Jewish sites defiled last night with spray-painted swastikas. I strongly condemn this hateful display of antisemitism. The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating the incident and New York State Police stand ready to assist.” said Governor Hochul

“Our community stands in solidarity with the families, students, and staff of Magen David Yeshiva, as well as with the Jewish community as a whole. No New Yorker should wake up to see hateful images like swastikas desecrating a place where our children go to learn and feel safe.” said Councilmember Susan Zhuang.

“Hate has no home in New York and Governor Hochul’s show of support and funding announcement today sends the message that we won’t let hate go unanswered. $90 million to secure Jewish institutions and nonpublic schools of all faiths is the action needed to ensure our children are safe when they walk through the doors of their schools.” said Sydney Altfield, CEO of Teach Coalition.

“An attack on one community is an attack on all. Every leader from every level of government across the political spectrum has a responsibility to root this hate out and bring people together.” said Mark Treyger, CEO of JCRC-NY.

Senator Sam Sutton would like to thank Governor Hochul and Deputy Leader Gianaris for pledging to add an additional $20 million dollars to the Nonpublic School Safety Equipment (NPSE) Grant program to ensure that incidents like this never happen again.