Adams offers $5K reward after WWI statue vandalized in Central Park

MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11) — Mayor Eric Adams is putting up his own money to help find the “cowards” who allegedly graffitied a World War I memorial in Central Park during pro-Palestinian protests in Manhattan on Monday.

Adams is offering $5,000 for the arrest of three suspects who allegedly graffitied the General William Tecumseh Sherman monument in Central Park at around 8:30 p.m., according to the mayor and NYPD. The trio allegedly spray-painted “Gaza” and “Free Palestine” on the statue near 67th Street and Fifth Avenue, blocks away from demonstrations near the Met Gala, police said.

The mayor said the memorial was “vandalized by cowards in the name of protest.” The defaced monument was cleaned the following day.

“I’m not just putting my money where my mouth is. I’m going to put it where my heart is. My heart is in this city and in this country, and I would not stand by while people desecrate memorials for those who fought for democracy and human rights,” Adams said Tuesday.

The NYPD is offering a $10,000 reward and is investigating a few social media leads, according to police and the mayor.

Cops released photos of the three suspects sought in the incident. There have been no arrests, as of Wednesday.

“We’re going to treat this crime with the seriousness that it deserves,” Adams said.

Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

Mira Wassef is a digital reporter who has covered news and sports in the New York City area for more than a decade. She joined PIX11 News in 2022. See more of her work here.

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