Defendants Accused of Anti-Semitic Graffiti During Pro-Palestinian Protests
Three individuals have been indicted on hate crime charges for allegedly defacing the homes of Brooklyn Museum officials with anti-Semitic messages and graffiti during pro-Palestinian demonstrations this past summer. Prosecutors in Brooklyn announced Monday that Taylor Pelton, Samuel Seligson, and Gabriel Schubiner face multiple charges, including making a terroristic threat as a hate crime and criminal mischief.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez stated that the trio specifically targeted museum board members with Jewish-sounding names, claiming their actions go beyond protest and fall under hate crimes. The vandalism incidents occurred in the early morning hours of June 12 and included the homes of museum director Anne Pasternak, president and COO Kimberly Trueblood, and board chair Barbara Vogelstein.
“These defendants allegedly targeted museum board members with threats and anti-Semitic graffiti based on their perceived heritage,” Gonzalez said in a press release. “These actions are not protests; they are hate crimes.”
Details of the Alleged Vandalism
Prosecutors say the group used red paint to create slogans like “Brooklyn Museum, blood on your hands” and unfurled banners that read “blood on your hands, war crimes, funds genocide.” The banners also included red handprints, anarchist symbols, and inverted red triangles — symbols that prosecutors associate with Hamas, which recently carried out a surprise attack on Israel.
The group reportedly spray-painted over security cameras to avoid identification, though other surveillance footage captured them loading supplies into Pelton’s vehicle. Authorities identified Schubiner through a fingerprint left on a stencil covered in red paint found at one of the vandalized sites.
Arraignment and Legal Responses
Schubiner, 36, was arraigned on Monday in Brooklyn and released without bail. Seligson, 32, and Pelton, 28, are expected to be arraigned next week. Schubiner and Pelton face 25 charges each, while Seligson faces 17, including the serious charge of making a terroristic threat as a hate crime.
Lawyers for the defendants have expressed concerns over the charges. Seligson’s attorney, Leena Widdi, described her client as an independent videographer acting as a credentialed journalist, claiming the hate crime charges represent an “appalling” overreach. Moira Meltzer-Cohen, representing Pelton, criticized the arrests as part of a broader trend of treating Palestine solidarity actions as hate crimes.
Background of the Protests at the Brooklyn Museum
The vandalism incidents occurred amid a wave of pro-Palestinian protests targeting the Brooklyn Museum. In May, hundreds of demonstrators gathered at the museum, briefly occupying the lobby and displaying a “Free Palestine” banner from the roof before police intervened, resulting in dozens of arrests. Protest organizers accused the museum of complicity in Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which museum officials have denied, emphasizing the institution’s commitment to neutrality.
As the case moves forward, it highlights the complex legal territory where hate crime charges intersect with free speech and political protest, particularly around the highly charged issue of Israel-Palestine relations.
