{"id":2086795,"date":"2023-11-01T13:22:04","date_gmt":"2023-11-01T17:22:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/man-claims-hes-just-an-artist-after-defacing-nyc-synagogues\/"},"modified":"2023-11-01T13:24:19","modified_gmt":"2023-11-01T17:24:19","slug":"man-claims-hes-just-an-artist-after-defacing-nyc-synagogues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/man-claims-hes-just-an-artist-after-defacing-nyc-synagogues\/","title":{"rendered":"Man denies responsibility for defacing NYC synagogues, insists he&#8217;s merely an artist."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fman-claims-hes-just-an-artist-after-defacing-nyc-synagogues%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2086795&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>A New York City Artist Indicted for Antisemitic Graffiti on Synagogues and Ambulance<\/h2>\n<p>A New York City\u200c man is claiming he is &#8220;just an artist&#8221; after he was indicted Tuesday for allegedly\u2063 defacing three synagogues and a Jewish volunteer ambulance with\u200c antisemitic graffiti.<\/p>\n<p>Lenny De La Rosa, 21, was indicted in the Manhattan Supreme Court on four counts of criminal\u2063 mischief in the fourth degree as\u2062 a hate crime following his alleged actions over a 48-hour span in mid-August, according to a report.<\/p>\n<h3>Defacing Sacred Places<\/h3>\n<p>De \u200cLa Rosa pleaded not guilty, but\u200c he faces up\u2063 to four years if he is convicted.<\/p>\n<p>His \u2063<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/man-claims-hes-just-an-artist-after-defacing-nyc-synagogues\/\" title=\"Man denies responsibility for defacing NYC synagogues, insists he's merely an artist.\">alleged graffiti spree began<\/a> at roughly 7 p.m. on \u200cAug. 12 when he \u2063first wrote &#8220;<strong>JESUS SAINTZZZ<\/strong>&#8221; on the front of the Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun synagogue, the \u200breport noted.<\/p>\n<p>He then wrote &#8220;<strong>DEAD RIIP<\/strong>&#8221; \u200don the front of the\u200b Temple Shaaray Tefila, &#8220;<strong>Dead Rip<\/strong>&#8221; on the side of a Hatzalah ambulance, and &#8220;<strong>Dead B-P<\/strong>&#8221; on the\u2064 side of Congregation\u200b Or Zarua on Aug. \u206314, according to a\u200d complaint filed in court.<\/p>\n<h3>Unapologetic Artist<\/h3>\n<p>When confronted with photos and videos of the actions, De La Rosa did not deny that he was responsible.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s\u2062 me. That&#8217;s my work,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;As alleged, Lenny De La Rosa defaced\u200c three synagogues and\u200d an ambulance in a series of antisemitic acts,&#8221; a statement from District Attorney Alvin Bragg read.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Synagogues \u2062are sacred places where everyone \u200bshould be able to practice their faith safely. We will not allow our houses of worship to be violated by hateful acts\u200d and we do not tolerate bias and antisemitism.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>When a New York Post photographer pressed him about his motives, De La Rosa claimed \u200bhe\u200c was simply an\u200d &#8220;<strong>artist<\/strong>,&#8221; according to the report.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Can you stop harassing me?&#8221; he said. &#8220;I&#8217;m just an artist. I don&#8217;t know what you\u2019re\u200d talking about. Can you \u200dstop recording me?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>De La Rosa\u200c also told authorities that he has no ill will toward Jews.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;To\u200c be \u200dhonest,\u2063 I didn&#8217;t choose it, Islam chose me,&#8221; he said. &#8220;To be honest, when \u200bI was growing up, all of my friends \u200dwere Muslim, so that&#8217;s kinda that. I also had a lot of friends from Columbia University and they were Jewish. Don\u2019t get me wrong, I had Jewish friends.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I am not going to\u200c sit here and say I hate \u2064Jewish people because I am black. &#8230; Nah bro, I like Jewish people. Trust me, bro.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> \u200d What \u200brole does education play in countering antisemitism and fostering empathy, respect, and understanding among diverse groups?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  The recent indictment of a New\u2062 York City artist, Lenny De La Rosa,\u200c has brought\u2064 to light a disturbing case of antisemitic graffiti,\u200d targeting synagogues and a Jewish\u200c volunteer ambulance. The \u2064incident has shaken\u2064 the community, raising\u200c concerns about the rise of hate crimes and the impact of such\u200b actions on religious institutions.<\/p>\n<p>De La Rosa, a 21-year-old self-proclaimed artist, \u2063was charged with four counts of\u2062 criminal\u200c mischief in the fourth degree, all classified as hate crimes,\u200c following a \u200c48-hour spree in mid-August. His alleged defacement of three synagogues and the Jewish ambulance has deeply saddened and outraged the community.<\/p>\n<p>Antisemitism has \u200blong been a pervasive issue that continues to plague societies across the globe, \u200band this incident\u200d is a stark \u200creminder of the ongoing \u2063persecution \u200dfaced by Jewish communities. The\u2062 perpetrators of such \u2064hate crimes aim to spread fear,\u200d division, and hatred, posing a threat to the principles \u200bof\u2063 tolerance, inclusivity, and religious\u200b freedom that form\u2063 the \u2062bedrock of our diverse society.<\/p>\n<p>By targeting religious institutions, De La Rosa&#8217;s alleged actions strike at the heart of communal harmony and \u2063mutual respect. Places of worship, regardless of faith, should serve as safe havens where\u2062 people \u2062can find solace, practice their beliefs,\u2063 and foster a sense \u200dof community. Such acts of vandalism not only undermine the institutions \u2063they target but also\u200b contribute \u200cto an environment of \u200dfear and \u2064uncertainty among worshippers.<\/p>\n<p>It is essential to \u200crecognize that, as an\u200d artist, \u2064De\u200d La Rosa may have had intentions beyond\u200d mere destruction\u200d and defacement. Artistic expression\u2064 forms a fundamental part of our society, often serving as a medium to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kiss-my-ashes\/\" title=\"Ashes, kiss me.\">convey powerful messages<\/a> and\u200c stimulate important conversations. However, it is\u2062 crucial\u200b that artists acknowledge the impact of \u2062their work on others and strive to create art \u2064that\u200b fosters empathy, understanding, and unity.<\/p>\n<p>Art can\u200d be a potent tool for social \u2064change, but it must be rooted \u2064in \u2062respect and an \u2064awareness of \u2063the consequences. The line between artistic expression and hate speech can be thin, and \u2063it\u200c is the responsibility of \u200bartists, professionals, and society at\u200b large to ensure \u2063that it is\u2064 not crossed.<\/p>\n<p>The indictment \u2063of De La Rosa sends a strong message\u2063 that hate crimes will \u200dnot be tolerated in\u200d our society. It is a testament to the commitment of \u200d<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/israeli-owned-spyware-firms-blacklisted-by-us-commerce-department-over-national-security-risks\/\" title=\"US Commerce Department blacklists Israeli spyware firms due to national security risks.\">law enforcement\u2063 agencies<\/a> and\u2062 the justice system in promoting\u200d religious \u200cfreedom and combating antisemitism.<\/p>\n<p>In\u2063 light of this incident, it is crucial for communities, religious \u200bleaders,\u2063 and \u200dindividuals\u2062 to stand\u200d united against hatred and bigotry.\u2063 Education plays a vital role in countering antisemitism, and concerted efforts should be made to foster tolerance,\u200d respect, and understanding among diverse groups. \u2062Community\u200d outreach programs, interfaith dialogues, and educational initiatives can\u2063 go a long way in\u200b building bridges \u200dand dispelling prejudice.<\/p>\n<p>As we move forward, it\u200d is imperative that we reflect on the values that bind \u2062us together\u200c as a society. \u200bWe must reaffirm our commitment to\u200d religious freedom, mutual\u200b respect, and\u2063 the celebration of\u200b diversity. Only\u2064 through \u2063collective action\u200c and a firm \u2063stance against antisemitism can we hope to eradicate the pernicious influence of hatred and create a society where all individuals \u2063can coexist\u2064 harmoniously, irrespective of their faith \u200dor\u200b background.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A New York City man, Lenny De La Rosa, 21, was indicted for defacing three synagogues and a Jewish volunteer ambulance with antisemitic graffiti. He claims to be &#8220;just an artist.&#8221; The Manhattan Supreme Court charged him with four counts of hate-driven criminal mischief in the fourth degree.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2086796,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2086795","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2086795","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2086795"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2086795\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2086796"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2086795"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2086795"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2086795"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}