Queens activists are urging President Trump’s Justice Division to research a years-long rash of antisemitic incidents within the Jackson Heights neighborhood — together with the desecration of a menorah through the Hanukkah vacation final month, The Put up has realized.
Former Queens Councilman Hiram Monserrate and retired Metropolis School of New York professor Samuel Kleinplatz filed a civil rights grievance with the DOJ that additionally consists of proof of hateful graffiti and symbols together with swastikas and “gasoline the Jews” discovered across the neighborhood during the last two years.
“This newest in a string of incidents within the space occurring subsequent to the October 7, 2023 Hamas assaults in Israel, seem to represent hate crimes motivated by non secular bias towards the Jewish group, and I request that the Division of Justice examine this matter promptly to forestall additional escalation and guarantee accountability,” the Jan. 10 grievance states.
“We perceive that these acts are a concerted effort by a bunch of people of which a minimum of one resides right here in Jackson Heights,” it stated.
“Regardless of this matter being reported to native police quite a few instances, to this point no arrests have been made.”
The grievance offers pictures of a resident who resides on eightieth Road, which the group activists imagine to be concerned in spreading the Jew hatred.
A number of the incidents cited within the grievance embody:
- A big public menorah in Travers Park, at thirty fourth Avenue between 77th and 78th Streets, being vandalized throughout Hanukkah in mid-December 2025. The menorah was affiliated with Chabad of Jackson Heights, Congregation Tifereth Israel.
- On Dec. 1, 2025, a swastika was seen carved into the sidewalk at 84th Road and Roosevelt Avenue — adjoining to the Jackson Heights Mural Challenge celebrating tolerance and variety.
- On Sept. 22, 2025, coinciding with the Rosh Hashanah vacation, graffiti was discovered that stated “Loss of life (to) Zionists” across the nook from the Jackson Heights Jewish Middle.
- Swastikas had been sprayed all through the realm, together with one on the storage door of a house owner simply earlier than the Yom Kippur vacation in October 2024.
- An antisemitic vandal scrawled “Gasoline the Jews” inside a Q49 bus that runs by means of East Elmhurst and Jackson Heights in November 2023.
- On Sept. 13, 2023, graffiti was discovered on thirty seventh Avenue and 83rd Road, saying “Fck Isrl” together with stickers that learn “SLAP YOUR LOCAL ZIONISTS.”
“These incidents violate federal legal guidelines prohibiting interference with non secular practices and property harm motivated by bias and create a hostile setting by intimidation and willful interference with the best to be housed throughout the group primarily based on the protected attribute of faith,” the grievance stated.
“Related acts in close by areas, corresponding to vandalism concentrating on Jewish faculties and synagogues, spotlight the necessity for federal intervention to handle this disturbing sample.”
The DOJ had no instant remark.
