One person has been arrested and two others are being sought for burning American and Israeli flags outside the Israeli consulate in New York City, authorities said.
Jahki Lodgson-McCray, 20, was charged with reckless endangerment, menacing, disorderly conduct and failure to use a sidewalk, authorities said.
On Wednesday, three people used an accelerant to burn flags in an active bike lane outside the Consulate General of Israel in midtown Manhattan, according to the NYPD.
“The flames of the flags presented a danger to bikers having to swerve out of the bike lane onto ongoing traffic and also presented a danger to civilians on the sidewalk,” police said.
Three people used an accelerant to burn flags in an active bike lane outside the Consulate General of Israel in midtown Manhattan, June 12, 2024.
Consulate General of Israel in New York
The New York Police Department’s Hate Crime Task Force is looking for the two outstanding suspects.
NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry called them “cowards” on social media.
“The NYPD will identify and apprehend all of them for their failed efforts to sow fear and discord in the place where mutual respect is the essence of who we are,” Daughtry wrote.
One person has been arrested and two others are being sought for burning American flags outside the Israeli consulate in New York City, authorities said.
NYPD
The flag burning comes on the heels of vandalism incidents in New York City this week, including at the homes of the Jewish director of the Brooklyn Museum and several of the museum’s board members, officials said.
And on Monday, a masked man led a call-and-response chant by protesters on a crowded Manhattan subway car. The chant asked Zionists to identify themselves.
“Repeat after me: Raise your hands if you’re a Zionist,” the leader, wearing sunglasses and a traditional Palestinian keffiyeh scarf, which has become a symbol of pro-Palestinian resistance, is heard repeatedly saying in the video, adding, “This is your chance to get out!”
“Ok, no Zionists, we’re good,” the leader is then heard saying.
The NYPD is working to identify the masked leader.
On a recent evening in New York City, chaos erupted outside the Israeli consulate as a group of individuals set fire to American and Israeli flags in a disturbing act of protest. While one person has been arrested in connection with the incident, two suspects remain at large, leaving authorities and the public on edge.
The brazen act of burning flags, especially those of two allied nations, has sparked outrage and condemnation from officials and community members alike. The Israeli consulate serves as a symbol of diplomatic relations between the United States and Israel, making the vandalism particularly egregious.
The individual who has been arrested faces charges of arson and vandalism, but the identities of the two remaining suspects are still unknown. Law enforcement officials are working tirelessly to track down these individuals and bring them to justice for their actions.
The incident has reignited debates about freedom of speech and the right to protest, with many arguing that while individuals have the right to express their opinions, there are more constructive and peaceful ways to do so. Burning flags, especially outside a diplomatic mission, crosses a line and can incite violence and further tensions.
In response to the incident, the Israeli consulate has increased security measures to ensure the safety of its staff and visitors. The consulate has also issued a statement condemning the act of vandalism and expressing solidarity with the United States and its citizens.
As the investigation into the incident continues, authorities are urging anyone with information about the two remaining suspects to come forward. The public’s help is crucial in bringing these individuals to justice and sending a clear message that such acts of vandalism will not be tolerated in a civilized society.
In conclusion, the burning of American and Israeli flags outside the Israeli consulate in New York City is a disturbing reminder of the tensions and divisions that exist in our society. While one person has been arrested in connection with the incident, the search for the two remaining suspects continues. It is important for us as a community to stand together against such acts of hate and violence and work towards finding peaceful solutions to our differences.
