New York City Mayor puts up his own money as part of reward to find pro-Palestine vandals that defaced WW1 memorial
New York Mayor Eric Adams has coughed up $5,000 of his own money for information leading to the arrest of pro-Palestine protesters who desecrated a World War One memorial on Monday.
Crimestoppers is also offering an additional $10,000 rewards, Adams confirmed.
Police in the Big Apple claimed demonstrators targeted the statue as hundreds marched from Hunter College to the Met Gala.
A Star-Spangled Banner was also burnt during the latest wave of protests.
Wanted posters were put up depicting the suspects near the statue on Tuesday afternoon.
The New York Police Department posted more photos on social media by Wednesday.
The memorial, which is located at the corner of 67th Street and Fifth Avenue, was desecrated with spray-painted words like “Gaza” and phrases “Free Palestine” and “Let Gaza live.”
It took place roughly 10 blocks south of where protests converged near the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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The spray-painted messages were cleaned up by Tuesday afternoon.
Several hundred demonstrators marched with flares from Hunter College on Monday night.
Police said 27 people were taken into custody, mostly for disorderly conduct.
A total of 21 people were released with summonses.
Mayor Adams said: “I want to be extremely clear. In spite of the unpopular notion that people don’t want to say it — I want to say it — I love America.
“I love America, and I’m proud to be a citizen of America.
“And the reason we are here is because of men and women like the statue behind us.
“And we cannot remain silent when our symbols of freedom are desecrated by individuals who clearly hate our country and hate our way of life.”
He added: “I am not going to remain silent and we should not remain silent, because our silence gives the belief that everything is OK, and it is not OK.
“Not only was this statue desecrated, but down the block another statue was desecrated.”
Anyone with any information is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
You can also submit a tip via their website or via DM on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.