Community leaders, clergy members, and elected officials gathered Tuesday evening in Forest Hills to denounce a recent series of antisemitic incidents that shocked residents across several Queens neighborhoods.
According to reports originally published by amNewYork Metro, the gathering was held outside Congregation Machane Chodosh after multiple locations in Forest Hills and Rego Park were vandalized with swastikas and hateful graffiti allegedly by four teenage suspects.
The synagogue itself was among the locations targeted. Vandals reportedly defaced a memorial honoring victims of Kristallnacht, widely remembered as one of the earliest large-scale Nazi attacks against Jewish communities in Europe.
Speakers at the rally described the incidents as alarming and unacceptable, warning against allowing acts of hate to become normalized in New York City.
Mark Treyger, who helped organize the event, said the attacks affected not only synagogues but also homes, vehicles, and community centers serving vulnerable residents, including children and senior citizens.
“This is not something we can accept as normal,” Treyger told attendees. “No family should have to walk past symbols of hate on their way to school or a place of worship.”
The rally drew a broad coalition of public officials, including Grace Meng, Julie Menin, Mark Levine, Melinda Katz, and Jumaane Williams.
Menin said the rise in antisemitic activity across the city demands a united response from all New Yorkers.
“Hatred has no place in our communities,” Menin said during the rally. “We must confront it directly and make it clear that these acts will never be tolerated.”
Meng emphasized that political disagreements overseas should never be used to justify targeting Jewish communities locally. She urged residents to stand together against all forms of hate and discrimination.
“These are not isolated incidents,” Meng said. “We are seeing a broader rise in antisemitism not just in New York City, but around the world.”
Levine reflected on the deep Jewish history of neighborhoods such as Forest Hills, Rego Park, and Kew Gardens Hills, which became home to many Jewish families fleeing persecution in Europe after World War II. He called the vandalism of a Holocaust memorial “beyond disgraceful.”
Authorities said the vandalism began late Sunday night and continued into Monday morning. Among the reported incidents was a swastika spray-painted on a vehicle near 67th Drive and 110th Street. Other locations included residential buildings, Jewish institutions, and the Rego Park Jewish Center.
The New York City Police Department confirmed that the Hate Crimes Task Force and officers from the 112th Precinct are actively investigating the incidents. Surveillance footage of four teenage suspects was released Tuesday night as investigators continue searching for those responsible.
During the rally, Rabbi Yosef Mendelson encouraged the Jewish community not to live in fear despite the hateful acts.
“We cannot allow intimidation to define us,” Mendelson said. “The graffiti may have been hateful, but it was removed quickly. Our community remains strong and united.”
He also called for stronger educational efforts within the public school system to promote moral responsibility and mutual respect among young people.
“Our struggle is against hatred and harmful behavior,” Mendelson said. “It is not against humanity.”
Rabbi Romiel Daniel described the emotional impact the vandalism had on families connected to his congregation, especially children and older residents who use the center regularly.
“For generations, families came here seeking peace and safety,” Daniel said. “To see these acts happen in our own neighborhood is heartbreaking.”
Organizers stressed that while arrests and prosecutions are important, long-term solutions must also involve education, community outreach, and public investment aimed at combating hate before it escalates further.
Treyger concluded the rally by urging city leaders and residents alike to move beyond statements and take meaningful action.
“Words alone are not enough,” he said. “We need accountability, education, and a commitment to protecting every community from hate.”
By the Midtown Times Staff
