A flag with swastikas surrounding the Star of David flew briefly atop an NYU building during a graduation event Wednesday, university officials said.
“We are shocked and deeply troubled that this hateful symbol expressing antisemitism was raised on a flagpole overlooking Washington Square Park,” said NYU spokesperson Wiley Norvell. “Campus safety responded immediately to remove it and we are working closely with the NYPD to identify whoever is responsible. We are one community. We protect each other. And we will not let hate and division find a foothold on our campus.”
The flag was spotted Wednesday afternoon above the Steinhardt School building on Washington Square East. The school is named for Michael and Judy Steinhardt. Michael Steinhardt is a billionaire donor to NYU, New York institutions and Jewish causes, and is also a co-founder of Birthright Israel, which sends young Jewish people to Israel to strengthen their ties to the country.
NYU’s student newspaper, the Washington Square News, published a photo of the flag with a Star of David in the center and two swastikas on either side. “NYU” was also on the flag.
It flew atop the building as hundreds gathered for an outdoor celebration called “Grad Alley” on West Fourth Street, NYU officials confirmed. The student newspaper reported the flag appeared at 5 p.m. and “repeatedly moved up and down the flagpole” before being removed 15 minutes later.
"Vandalizing a flag with a Nazi symbol that represents the genocide of millions of Jews is an abhorrent act of antisemitism. Graduation should be a time of celebration, not hate and division. These disgusting attacks will never be tolerated by New York State," Jen Goodman, a spokesperson for Gov. Kathy Hochul, said in a statement.
The incident comes amid tension about commencement at universities around the city. Gothamist previously reported on post-Oct. 7 changes to numerous commencement events.
Pro-Palestinian students protesting Israel’s war in Gaza disrupted some graduation events, prompting changes to the typical run of show.
This year, some NYU students had criticized the university’s decision to have author and professor Jonathan Haidt as commencement speaker. Haidt is a leader in the movement to reduce young people’s exposure to smartphones and social media. But some students took issue with his criticism of diversity, equity and inclusion as well as so-called cancel culture.
Some had also criticized the university’s decision to replace live speakers with pre-taped remarks at individual school graduations after after a graduate at NYU’s Gallatin School decried “atrocities” and “genocide” in Gaza during his speech last year.
