Police investigating vandalism at Park Slope restaurant as a hate crime

Miriam, a beloved Israeli restaurant in Park Slope, was vandalized early Sunday morning in what the NYPD is investigating as a hate crime, officials said.

Police said the incident was reported around 3 a.m. Photos shared on social media show the restaurant’s windows and door splattered with red paint, with phrases like “genocide cuisine” and “Israel steals culture” scrawled in the same color. No arrests had been made as of Sunday afternoon.

The NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force is investigating the incident.

In an Instagram post, the restaurant responded, writing, “We refuse to let this darken our spirit. Miriam stands for inclusivity and unity and bringing people together through the shared love of delicious food and warm hospitality. We celebrate the diverse flavors of the Mediterranean, where cultures intertwine and stories are shared. We will continue to be a safe place where everyone feels welcome.”

The act drew widespread condemnation from locals and elected officials, including Mayor Eric Adams, who called the attack “a despicable act of antisemitism” in a post on X, vowing that the NYPD would find those responsible.

Brooklyn Councilmember Shahana Hanif, whose district includes Miriam, said her office was working with local authorities and business groups to support the restaurant.

Comptroller Brad Lander described the incident as “a clear example of when anti-Zionism becomes antisemitism.”

He added that he would be attending a dinner at Miriam with local rabbis and leaders of the New York Jewish Agenda later Sunday evening.

Gov. Kathy Hochul, Councilmember Lincoln Restler, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and New York Attorney General Letitia James also publicly denounced the defacing of the eatery.

State Sen. Chuck Schumer, a neighborhood resident, also condemned the act, calling Miriam “a very good community restaurant” and noting his family has eaten there several times. He visited the establishment on Sunday evening to show his support.

The Anti-Defamation League of New York and New Jersey said it reached out to the eatery to offer its support. Meanwhile, Mark Treyger, CEO of the New York Jewish Community Relations Council, met with restaurant ownership on Sunday while he was waiting for an order.

The New York Public library’s Stephen A. Schwarzman building was previously vandalized on Thanksgiving, costing the institution $75,000 in damages. The homes of the Brooklyn Museum’s director and board members were similarly vandalized with red paint over the summer during a wave of pro-Palestinian protests. Three people were arrested in connection with those incidents in November.