On the solemn 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, an Israeli restaurant in Brooklyn became the target of antisemitic vandalism, underscoring the persistence of hate crimes against Jewish communities.
Former New York City police detective Richard "Bo" Dietl reflected on the incident during an interview on Newsmax's "American Agenda," calling it "horrific" and emphasizing the enduring presence of antisemitism.
"You know, today is the 80th year of people being freed in Auschwitz. I think it's a very holy, sacred day, and it just shows you the hatred that's still there," Dietl said.
He added that the NYPD had specialized detectives to handle such cases and urged the public to assist by reporting any information to the police.
Miriam, a beloved Israeli restaurant in Park Slope, Brooklyn, was vandalized early Sunday morning with antisemitic graffiti. Surveillance footage shows two individuals defacing the restaurant's façade on Fifth Avenue and Prospect Place around 3 a.m. The NYPD's Hate Crimes Task Force has launched an investigation into the incident, CBS News reported.
This act of hatred comes during International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which honors the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust, along with millions of others persecuted under Nazi rule. The United Nations established Jan. 27 as a global day of remembrance, marking the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1945.
Dietl highlighted the role of social media in uncovering such crimes, saying, "It's all over social media, the hate and all that." He added, "When people have big mouths and love to brag about what they do, a lot of times it appears on social media, and we find out who the culprit is."
The former detective also drew parallels between the vandalism and broader patterns of hate, referencing incidents during campus riots in recent years.
"The hatred and all that reflects back to the United States. It's prevalent. It's here. We've got to understand we have to deal with it, and we have to stop it whenever we can," he said.
He reiterated the importance of vigilance and community cooperation in addressing such incidents. "If anybody hears anything about it, they should call the police. They'll respond to these incidents immediately," he said.
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Jim Thomas ✉
Jim Thomas is a writer based in Indiana. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science, a law degree from U.I.C. Law School, and has practiced law for more than 20 years.
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