The director of the Brooklyn Museum and three other museum officials woke up to a shocking sight on Wednesday morning. Vandals had targeted their homes, splashing red paint and graffiti on the buildings. The director, Anne Pasternak, was labeled a “white supremacist” Zionist on a banner hung outside her home.
This coordinated attack was deeply disturbing to the museum community. The museum spokeswoman confirmed that the homes of two trustees and the museum’s president and chief operating officer, Kimberly Panicek Trueblood, were also vandalized. The director of public relations and communications, Taylor Maatman, expressed the museum’s dismay at the incident.
Mayor Eric Adams took to social media to condemn the attack, promising that the Police Department would bring the perpetrators to justice. He emphasized that this act was not a form of peaceful protest or free speech but a clear display of antisemitism.
The Police Department has launched an investigation into the incident. Officers were seen gathering evidence and speaking to neighbors outside one of the victims’ homes. The community is shocked by this blatant display of hatred and intolerance.
As we await further updates on the investigation, it is essential to stand together against such acts of vandalism and hate. The Brooklyn Museum is a place of culture and art that should be respected and protected. Let us hope that those responsible for this despicable act are swiftly brought to justice.