Columbia University exec’s apartment building vandalized by pro-Palestinian protesters

A Columbia University executive’s apartment building in Brooklyn, New York, was vandalized this week with red paint, live crickets and mealworms by pro-Palestinian protesters. 

The entrance to the building, where Columbia University Chief Operating Officer Cas Holloway lives, also had a door window smashed.

The New York City Police Department told NBC News it was searching for five people connected to vandalism. As of Saturday, police had yet to make any arrests.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said on X that she activated the New York State Police’s hate crimes task force to aid the NYPD’s investigation.

“Hateful, antisemitic displays like this will not be tolerated in New York, and the perpetrators will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” she said. 

The incident appeared to be connected to the protests across Ivy League campuses against the Israel-Hamas war. Earlier this year, dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters occupied Columbia University’s Hamilton Hall, with many of them being arrested. 

The vandals left what appeared to be threatening posters featuring Mr. Holloway’s name and face and criticized his handling of the protests at Columbia. A letter left outside the building accused him of leaving “a trail of violence and destruction” since he was hired as COO in January. 

“Did you enjoy our present? Did it make you uncomfortable?” the letter read. “What you felt was incomparable to the pain you made Columbia students feel when you signed off on their brutalization because they stood against the genocide of Palestinians.”

Vandals also painted on the building’s entrance upside-down triangles, symbols used by Hamas to identify Israeli military targets. 

“Let us be clear: Acts like these are an affront to our values. We condemn them unequivocally. Anyone engaging in this kind of behavior will be reported to law enforcement and face the appropriate discipline,” said Columbia University spokesman Ben Chang in a statement. “We regret that Cas and his neighbors had to endure this vile attack. Every member of our community deserves to feel safe and supported.”