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    NYC journalist charged with hate crimes for antisemitic vandalism — including at home of Brooklyn Museum’s Jewish director

    By Amanda Woods, Joe Marino, Steve Janoski,

    6 hours ago

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3jp7GB_0uphxAD800

    Cops busted a New York City journalist who allegedly joined a group of antisemitic vandals that splattered red paint on several New York City homes two months ago — including one belonging to the head of the Brooklyn Museum.

    Samuel Seligson, 32, was picked up Tuesday and charged with two counts of third-degree hate crimes / criminal mischief for the vandalism, which cops said was done by five facemask-clad bandits who spray-painted slogans on the homes of museum board members accusing them of funding genocide.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0IZBAi_0uphxAD800
    Samuel Seligson, a NYC journalist, has been charged with a hate crime for vandalizing the Brooklyn Museum director’s home alongside a group of others in June. William Farrington
    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1leFXb_0uphxAD800
    Seligson was allegedly with a group of others who doused the front door of the director’s home with red paint. instagram/pal_actionus

    But cops wouldn’t say exactly what role Seligson — an independent videographer who was also arrested in May at a pro-Palestine protest — had during the attacks.

    A law enforcement source told the Associated Press that Seligson wasn’t accused of participating in the attacks, only filming them.

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    Seligson’s attorney, Leena Widdi, described the arrest and charges as an “appalling” overreach by police against a recognized journalist with a city-issued press credential who has licensed and sold footage to mainstream outlets like ABC News and Reuters.

    “Samuel is being charged for alleged behavior that is protected by the First Amendment and consistent with his job as a credentialed member of the press,” Widdi said in a statement.  “What is even more concerning, however, is that this member of the press is being charged with a hate crime.”

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2CmIyj_0uphxAD800
    Anne Pasternak, the director of the Brooklyn Museum, whose home was the target of antisemitic vandalism in June. Jason Lowrie/BFA.com
    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0T3A4n_0uphxAD800
    The vandalism accused the museum board members of having “blood on your hands” after the Israeli invasion of Gaza. instagram/pal_actionus

    But police sources told The Post that Seligson helped the vandals load their equipment, drove to the scenes with them, trespassed on private property and wasn’t wearing his press credentials during the incidents.

    Why I no longer feel safe as a Jewish American

    The alleged vandals struck days after hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters occupied the Brooklyn Museum’s lobby, vandalized artwork and claimed the museum was “deeply invested in and complicit” in Israel’s invasion of Gaza because of its leaders, trustees, sponsors and donors.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2gXPn7_0uphxAD800
    Police sources told The Post that Seligson helped the vandals load their equipment and rode to the scene with them. instagram/pal_actionus
    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2JqZqO_0uphxAD800
    The vandalism came just after hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters occupied the Brooklyn Museum’s lobby and vandalized artwork. instagram/pal_actionus

    Museum officials denied the allegations.

    At the Brooklyn Heights home of museum director Anne Pasternak — who is Jewish — the group hung a banner that said, “Anne Pasternak Brooklyn Museum White-Supremacist Zionist.”

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    The group also sprayed an upside-down, red triangle on her door — a symbol used by Hamas to identify Israeli military targets — during its early-morning raid on June 12.

    The vandals also allegedly targeted three other homes that belong to members of the Brooklyn Museum’s board — actions that were widely condemned.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1aivzC_0uphxAD800
    Seligson was charged with a pair of hate crimes for filming the event, a law enforcement source told the Associated Press. William Farrington

    Shortly afterward, the NYPD released surveillance footage of the five suspects wanted in the destruction of Pasternak’s building.

    Late last month, the NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force arrested Taylor Pelton, 28, of Queens, and hit her with similar charges for the ordeal at Pasternak’s home.

    Pelton — who had no prior arrests — was also accused of defacing another building on Douglass Street in Cobble Hill with red paint that same morning, and faces another count of hate crime criminal mischief for that act, cops said.

    Seligson has also been charged for the Douglass Street vandalism, according to police sources.

    For the latest metro stories, top headlines, breaking news and more, visit nypost.com/metro/

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