Swastika, ‘F–k Palestine’ scrawled on wall at NYC school where teens rioted against Jewish teacher
A swastika and “offensive language” was scrawled in red ink on the cafeteria wall at Hillcrest High School this week in another instance of antisemitic graffiti at the troubled Queens campus, The Post has learned.
The swastika, alongside the words “F–k Palestine,” was discovered on Wednesday with a crude drawing of the American flag.
The Nazi symbol underscored recent turmoil at the 2,387-student Jamaica school, where 400 teens rioted against a Jewish teacher who they learned had attended a pro-Israel rally two days after the Oct. 7 massacre of 1,200 in the Jewish state.
“This morning we discovered a hate symbol (swastika) which also contained offensive language,” Principal Scott Milczewski informed families in an email sent that evening on DOE letterhead. “This type of conduct is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated in our community.”
Lessons on hate symbols will be taught in all social studies classes, and the school is planning town-hall forums on the topic, the principal added.
School safety agents identified the student responsible for the graffiti, and the NYPD was contacted.
Cops arrested a 15-year-old boy, charging him with aggravated harassment, police said.
Meanwhile, Chancellor David Banks, seeking to calm outrage over the Nov. 20 riot, met privately with a group of Jewish community leaders and teachers to address what they call rising antisemitism in city schools.
“He heard loud and clear from Jewish educators experiencing discrimination and intimidation in the workplace,” said a person who attended the meeting.
Members of the UJA-Federation of New York gave Banks and First Deputy Chancellor Dan Weisberg a list of “suggestions” from the teachers.
Among them: adopt a DOE definition of antisemitism; include “Jewish voices” in staff training on bias; add Jews to diversity and inclusion programs; set up a hotline for teachers and parents to report incidents of antisemitism.
Banks promised to roll out plans to address the issue in coming weeks.
