NEW YORK, United States — New York University condemned what it called an antisemitic act after a flag bearing two swastikas, a Star of David, and the letters “NYU” was raised above the university’s Steinhardt building during graduation week, as hundreds of graduates and family members attended the school’s Grad Alley celebration near Washington Square Park.
The flag was seen shortly after 5 p.m. Wednesday, according to Washington Square News, NYU’s student newspaper. The report said the flag was visible from West Fourth Street as graduates and their families walked through the area during one of the university’s major commencement-week events.
NYU spokesperson Wiley Norvell said the university was “shocked and deeply troubled” by the display. He said campus safety officers removed the flag quickly and that the university was working with the New York Police Department to identify who was responsible.
“Campus safety responded immediately to remove it, and we are working closely with the NYPD to identify whoever is responsible,” Norvell said, according to The National News Desk. “We are one community. We protect each other. And we will not let hate and division find a foothold on our campus.”
Washington Square News reported that the flag remained visible for roughly 15 minutes before it was removed. The student newspaper also reported that at least four NYPD officers and five campus safety personnel entered the building after the incident.
No arrests had been announced as of the latest available reports. The investigation remained ongoing.
Jewish Students Voice Alarm
The incident occurred during a celebratory week for graduating students, intensifying concern among Jewish students and their families.
Adina Fridman, president of NYU Hillel, told Washington Square News the incident reflected a “broader pattern in which antisemitism is increasingly dismissed or normalized under the guise of political expression.”
Fridman said symbols tied to the murder of millions of Jews “carry profound pain and trauma” and have no place in a campus community committed to dignity and safety. She also credited the university for removing the display quickly and treating the incident seriously.
The Anti-Defamation League describes the swastika, in its Nazi context, as one of the most notorious hate symbols associated with antisemitism and white supremacy. The ADL notes that while the symbol has older religious and cultural meanings in some traditions, its display in Nazi-associated contexts is overwhelmingly understood in the United States as a hate symbol.
Campus Context
The flag incident comes amid heightened concern over antisemitism, anti-Israel activism, and campus tensions across the United States since the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attacks against Israel.
NYU has faced previous antisemitism-related incidents. Washington Square News reported that campus safety and the NYPD investigated swastika graffiti at NYU’s Dibner Library in December, as well as antisemitic graffiti and the theft of a mezuzah from a student dorm room in separate incidents.
The Steinhardt building is named for Michael Steinhardt, a major Jewish donor and philanthropist known for supporting Jewish causes, including Birthright Israel. Reports said the flag was raised above that building during the university’s annual graduation programming.
For Jewish students, the symbolism was particularly painful. The display combined Nazi imagery with Jewish and university symbols at a moment when students and families were gathered to mark academic achievement.
University Response
NYU said campus safety acted quickly and that the university is cooperating with police.
The university has not publicly identified a suspect or released details about how the flag was placed on the roof. Washington Square News reported that a staff member said the roof is typically locked and inaccessible to students, though some employees may have access.
The incident has drawn wider attention from Jewish advocacy organizations and campus observers, who said the display underscores the vulnerability many Jewish students feel during a period of rising antisemitism and intense anti-Israel activism.
For Jewish and pro-Israel students, the episode raises broader questions about campus safety, accountability, and the line between political protest and antisemitic intimidation.
NYU officials said the university would not allow hate to take hold on campus. The central unanswered question remains who raised the flag, how they accessed the location, and what disciplinary or legal consequences may follow.
