Anti-Israel Protesters Deface World War I Memorial in Central Park

Protesters vandalized a World War I memorial in New York City's Central Park, prompting condemnation from Mayor Eric Adams and other city officials. The incident occurred during anti-Israel protests in the area.

A World War I memorial in New York City's Central Park has been vandalized, drawing outrage from officials and veterans groups. The incident occurred during anti-Israel protests in the area, and the perpetrators are now being sought by the NYPD.

The monument, located along Central Park on the Upper East Side, depicts seven U.S. Army soldiers in the throes of battle in September 1918, as they burst through the Hindenburg Line, the last and strongest of the German army's defenses.

Anti-Israel protesters reportedly placed pro-Palestinian stickers on the memorial, spray-painted "Free Gaza," and burned the American flag at the site. The incident has sparked widespread anger and condemnation.

"We're going to treat this crime with the seriousness that it deserves," said Mayor Eric Adams, whose uncle died while serving in Vietnam at age 19. "I will not stand by while people desecrate memorials for those who fought for democracy and human rights. The very rights that they (pro-Palestinian groups) are calling for."

Video footage posted online shows a group of anti-Israel supporters placing a flag on the statue and using spray paint to advocate for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

"This is a [monument] to the Doughboys," said Zachary Iscol, commissioner of the city's Department of Emergency Management, referring to the nickname for troops under Army Gen. John Pershing’s American Expeditionary Forces.

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., who served in Iraq and Afghanistan as a U.S. Army infantry officer, said the "terrorist sympathizers committed felony violations of the Veterans’ Memorial Preservation and Recognition Act by defacing this memorial to the 107th Infantry."

New York City Councilor Vickie Paladino said a friend cleared the site of "Hamas propaganda" and planted American flags.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars, an advocacy group with chapters across the country, pointed Fox News Digital to a May 1 statement on the anti-Israel protests.

"The first amendment of the Constitution grants the rights of freedom of speech and of the people peacefully to assemble, the same rights members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) swore an oath to support and defend," said VFW Commander-in-Chief Duane Sarmiento. "We also support the rule of law in our country and those working to uphold it. Without them, segments of our population would have their rights infringed upon."

Elsewhere on Monday night, protesters also put a Palestinian flag on a statue honoring Union Army Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman near Central Park. NYPD officers arrived and blocked the crowd while an officer climbed on a ladder to remove it. The monument was also defaced with spray paint. Three suspects are being sought for that alleged act of vandalism.

The vandalism of these memorials has ignited a debate about the need for increased protection for monuments and memorials that honor veterans. City officials have vowed to investigate the incident thoroughly and bring the perpetrators to justice.