New York Mayor Eric Adams expressed strong condemnation and outrage following the vandalism of a World War I memorial in New York City by anti-Israel protesters. The 107th United States Infantry monument, located in Central Park on the Upper East Side, portrays seven U.S. Army soldiers in battle in September 1918, breaking through the Hindenburg Line, the final and most fortified defense of the German army.
Mayor Adams, who has a personal connection to military service through his late uncle who died in Vietnam at 19, offered $5,000 from his own funds to identify and apprehend the vandals. Additionally, the NYPD Crime Stoppers program is providing a $10,000 reward for information leading to the vandals’ capture.
During anti-Israel protests near Hunter College and the Met Gala, demonstrators defaced the memorial with pro-Palestinian stickers, spray-painted “Free Gaza,” and burned the American flag at the site.
“We’re going to treat this crime with the seriousness that it deserves,” Adams said in front of the monument. “I will not stand by while people desecrate memorials for those who fought for democracy and human rights. The right rights that they (pro-Palestinian groups) are calling for.”
A video circulating online captures anti-Israel supporters placing a flag on the statue and using spray paint to show support for Palestinians in Gaza. Authorities highlighted that the memorial stands out from others that typically commemorate senior military figures.
“This is a [monument] to the Doughboys,” said Zachary Iscol, commissioner of the city’s Department of Emergency Management, who was referring to the nickname for troops under Army Gen. John Pershing’s American Expeditionary Forces.
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., who served in Iraq and Afghanistan as a U.S. Army infantry officer, said the “terrorist sympathizers committed felony violations of the Veterans’ Memorial Preservation and Recognition Act by defacing this memorial to the 107th Infantry.”
New York City Councilor Vickie Paladino, who represents a portion of Queens, said a friend cleared the site of “Hamas propaganda” and planted American flags.
“He and another Veteran went into action as soon as images emerged of what had happened here. Sadly this is far from over,” she wrote.
“The first amendment of the Constitution grants the rights of freedom of speech and of the people peacefully to assemble, the same rights members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) swore an oath to support and defend, said VFW Commander-in-Chief Duane Sarmiento.
“We also support the rule of law in our country and those working to uphold it. Without them, segments of our population would have their rights infringed upon.”
