During what was supposed to be a feel-good week of caps, gowns, and selfies in Washington Square Park, a flag covered in swastikas briefly appeared atop a New York University building that overlooks the park, jolting students and visitors below. A man walking through the park spotted the banner and alerted news outlets, and campus safety officers quickly removed it. The New York City Police Department says it is investigating the incident.
According to CBS New York, the flag was designed to look like a purple twist on the Israeli flag, with stripes and a Star of David. Inside the star sat the NYU torch emblem, flanked by large swastikas on either side. NYU told the outlet it was “shocked and deeply troubled” by the display and said it is working with police to identify who raised the flag. The university added that it will not allow hate and division to gain a foothold on campus.
For students on the ground, the sight was as unsettling as it sounds. “It’s just disgusting, actually. Kind of repulsive,” senior Luca Pasquini told CBS New York. Nursing graduate Jiani Zou called the episode “hurtful.” The student president of NYU Hillel said she felt supported by university administrators after the flag was taken down.
Antisemitism in the City
The incident arrives amid a broader surge in antisemitic cases in New York City. The Anti-Defamation League’s Audit of Antisemitic Incidents for 2025 logged 860 such incidents in the city last year. Local outlets have also tracked new episodes of vandalism this month, including a Forest Hills swastika spree that triggered an NYPD hate crime investigation.
NYU's Campus History
NYU is not new to these kinds of incidents. Washington Square News reported that a door in Weinstein Hall was defaced with antisemitic graffiti in September 2025, and that both NYU and the NYPD launched an investigation. University leaders have pointed to a stated zero-tolerance policy and internal Title VI coordination as key pieces of NYU’s response playbook.
Police Response and How to Report Tips
The NYPD's Hate Crimes Task Force is reviewing the flag incident and is asking anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers. The city lists the main tip line as 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), with a Spanish-language line at 1-888-57-PISTA. Tips can also be submitted online through the NYPD's Crime Stoppers resources. The investigation remains active, and no arrests have been announced.
