‘Raise your hand if you’re a Zionist’: NYPD releases photo of suspect wanted in antisemitic incident

The antisemitic incident happened on the No. 5 train when a mob of anti-Israel protesters took over the subway after a protest outside an exhibit about the Nova festival.

By The Algemeiner

Police in New York City are looking for a suspect who yelled “raise your hand if you’re a Zionist” on a crowded subway train last week after an antisemitic demonstration in front of an exhibition in downtown Manhattan commemorating victims of the deadly Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks.

Police did not release the name of the suspect. The Jewish Future Alliance is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

NYPD Detectives are looking for this individual – wanted in connection to a criminal incident on 6/10 inside a packed subway car at Union Square station – where he shouted “raise your hands if you’re a Zionist, this is your chance to get out.” If you know who he is – contact… pic.twitter.com/Yj4aFsDA6O

— NYPD Chief of Transit (@NYPDTransit) June 19, 2024

The antisemitic incident happened on the No. 5 train when a mob of anti-Israel protesters took over the subway at around 8:10 pm on June 10, according to the New York Police Department (NYPD).

Many of the protesters were clad in masks and scarves before the suspect in sunglasses yelled, “Raise your hand if you’re a Zionist” and “This is your chance to get out,” according to authorities.

When the riders ignored his request, the man said, “Ok, no Zionists. We’re good,” according to videos of the incident shared on social media.

At the June 10 demonstration, anti-Israel activists lit smoke bombs and red and green flares in the colors of the Palestinian flag — in addition to waving flags of the Iran-backed terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah, which both openly seek the Jewish state’s destruction — outside the exhibit “Nova: Oct. 7 6:29 AM, The Moment Music Stood Still.”

The protesters chanted “There is only one solution: intifada revolution,” “Long live the intifada,” and “Resistance is justified when people are occupied.” They also yelled “Israel go to hell,” burned images of the Israeli flag, and held a variety of anti-Israel signs, one of which read, “Long live October 7th.”

Another sign said, “The Zionists are not Jews & not humans! They are the evil of the world!” Some protesters also reportedly verbally abused two people visiting the exhibit, calling them “dirty colonizer bi–h.”

Some anti-Israel demonstrators clashed with NYPD officers, and three people were reportedly arrested. Six people were issued summonses — three for disorderly conduct and three for jumping turnstiles — the NYPD said.

A call for intifada is advocating for indiscriminate violence against Israel and potentially Jews worldwide, according to the Anti-Defamation League.

The exhibit, which opened on April 21 in New York City, after a 10-week run in Tel Aviv, was scheduled to close earlier this month.

It honors the 364 people killed by Hamas terrorists at the Supernova festival on Oct. 7, highlights testimonies from survivors of the brutal attack, and features a photo gallery of those murdered that day.

Donations from the exhibit go to the Nova Healing Journey, an initiative that supports mental health treatment for victims and families of the Oct. 7 attacks.

One of the exhibit’s organizers, Jewish music executive Scooter Braun, announced in an Instagram post that “due to the overwhelming demand and excitement” surrounding the exhibit, it would be extended one more week until June 22 “just to make sure that everyone has a chance to visit and see for themselves.”

anti-IsraelAntisemitismNova exhibitNYPD