A Confederate flag was discovered tied to the entrance of the Museum of Jewish Heritage in Lower Manhattan this morning. The banner, a popular emblem of white supremacist groups, was likely attached overnight, though no arrests have yet been made in connection to the crime.
In a statement shared with Hyperallergic, the museum’s CEO and president, Jack Kliger, said the museum has filed a police report and is working with authorities to identify the responsible individual.
“This is an atrocious attack on our community and on our institution and must be met with the swift and forceful response by law enforcement,” Kliger said. “The Confederate flag is a potent symbol of white supremacy, as evidenced by the events at the US Capitol this week. Such hate has now arrived at our doorstep, just steps away from a train car which once transported Jews to the Auschwitz death camp. These horrific acts of emboldened anti-Semitism must end now.”
In the wake of the raid of the Capitol Building by a violent mob of Trump supporters this Wednesday, January 6, the museum had released an earlier statement condemning “the blatant bigotry” displayed by the extremists.
“As individuals stormed the Capitol, they brandished Antisemitic and racist symbols, including Confederate flags, nooses, and attire promoting the Auschwitz death camp, which is the subject of the museum’s current exhibition, Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away,“ the statement read. The institution has partnered with the Anti-Defamation League and the New York Board of Rabbis to present an online panel on extremism next week, Thursday, January 14, at 2pm.
This is a developing story. The New York Police Department has not yet responded to Hyperallergic’s request for additional information.
