Harlem Vandal Indicted After Antisemitic Synagogue Graffiti: DA

HARLEM, NY – The East Harlem man accused of scrawling antisemitic graffiti on three Upper East Side synagogues and an ambulance in August was indicted on Tuesday, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced.

Lenny De La Rosa, 21, was indicted on four counts of criminal mischief as a hate crime, Bragg’s office said.

“As alleged, Lenny De La Rosa defaced three synagogues and an ambulance in a series of antisemitic acts,” said District Attorney Bragg. “Synagogues are sacred places where everyone should be able to practice their faith safely. We will not allow our houses of worship to be violated by hateful acts and we do not tolerate bias and antisemitism.”

De La Rosa first struck at Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun Synagogue on August 12, prosecutors said.

NYPD officials claim that previously released video footage shows De La Rosa drawing antisemitic graffiti on a video screen outside the East 85th Street synagogue at 7 p.m., with prosecutors confirming the man wrote “JESUS SAINTZZZ” on the screen.

Two days later, another spate of hateful graffiti was found on a glass display outside of Temple Shaaray Tefila on Second Avenue near East 79th Street, where De La Rosa wrote “DEAD RIIP,” prosecutors said.

But that wasn’t the end of De La Rosa’s antisemitic mission.
Two days later, another spate of hateful graffiti was found on a glass display outside of Temple Shaaray Tefila on Second Avenue near East 79th Street, where De La Rosa wrote “DEAD RIIP,” prosecutors said.

But that wasn’t the end of De La Rosa’s antisemitic mission.