You are reading

Racist and antisemitic graffiti found at Hunters Point South Park in Long Island City

Children were playing on the oval at Hunters Point South Park when antisemitic and racist graffiti were discovered on the turf surface and removed on Monday morning. Images have been blurred from original photos from Hunters Point South Waterfront News

April 29, 2025 By Bill Parry

By the time Long Island City civic leaders discovered racist and antisemitic graffiti scrawled across the oval at Hunters Point South Park on Monday morning, neighborhood children were already playing on the turf.

A park worker quickly removed the graffiti, and now police from the 108th Precinct are searching for the culprits who vandalized the waterfront park sometime on Sunday night.

“Hunters Point Parks Conservancy condemns the racist and antisemitic graffiti that was added to Hunters Point South Park’s oval overnight,” HPPC said in a statement on Monday. “We elevated it to the NYC Parks management team so they are aware. If you have any information about the perpetrators, please report it to the 108.”

HPPC President Rob Basch said he became aware of the graffiti around 10 a.m. and went directly to the park.

“Kids were running around the oval when I saw the graffiti,” Basch told Queens Post. “I found a park employee, and she got some water and a sponge and wiped it away.”

Hunters Point Civic Association President James Edstrom praised Basch for acting quickly to remove the graffiti before more families arrived at the popular play area. He added that the waterfront community was deeply disturbed by the hateful incident.

“Everyone is up in arms,” Edstrom said. “We are very lucky to have Rob Basch.”

NYC Parks Queens Borough Commissioner Jackie Langsam denounced the offensive graffiti.

“Hate has no place in our parks,” Langsam said. “When offensive hate speech is discovered, we work with NYPD to remove it immediately. I’m grateful for the swift response by Parks staff on Monday to respond and remove the graffiti.”

Council Member Julie Won also condemned the incident.

“We do not tolerate racist or antisemitic hate speech,” she wrote on social media Monday. “My office is working with NYC Parks to remove graffiti drawn at the Hunters Point South Park oval last night. Any graffiti promoting racial or religious discrimination should be reported to my office at (718) 383-9566 or district26@nyc.gov. We will work with our partners to remove it immediately.”

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org or on X (the platform formerly known as Twitter) @NYPDTips. All calls and messages are confidential.

Through April 27, the 108th Precinct has reported one hate crime so far in 2025, four fewer than the five reported at the same point last year, a decline of 80%, according to the most recent CompStat report.

email the author: news@queenspost.com
No comments yet

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.


The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

May races in Queens: JFK Airport 5K, Forest Park trail classic and a Queensborough 5K

May. 16, 2025 By Paulina Albarracin

The energy of May is on full display across Queens, with a lineup of local races that invite runners of all levels to hit the pavement and the trails. With mild temperatures and sunny skies setting the stage, it’s the perfect time to take advantage of the spring weather before the summer heat sets in. From the Forest Park 4 Mile Road and Trail Classic to the festive Great Hawaiian Luau 5K at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, these events offer more than just a workout—they foster community spirit and personal growth. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen before lacing up and heading out. Whether you’re a seasoned runner or new to the sport, these May races offer a chance to challenge yourself and connect with others in motion.

Two women shot at Ocean Bay Apartments in Far Rockaway, gunman still at large: NYPD

Police from the 101st Precinct in Far Rockaway are looking for a gunman who shot two women at the Ocean Bay Apartments in Arverne on the night of Saturday, May 10.

The suspect is seen on video surveillance at around 9:35 p.m. approaching the southeast corner of the NYCHA complex at Beach 54th Street and Arverne Boulevard, where he pulled out a handgun and opened fire at a group of people, striking two women before running off. When officers responded to a 911 call of an assault in progress at the complex, which is also called the Oceanside Apartments, they found the two victims: a 34-year-old woman who was shot in both legs and a 32-year-old woman with a gunshot wound to her leg. EMS responded to the location and transported the victims to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, where they were both listed in stable condition.