Vandals spray-painted swastikas and pro-Donald Trump graffiti at Adam Yauch Park in Brooklyn last Friday, and just one day later, children reclaimed the park with flowers, hearts, and messages of love.
City workers removed the graffiti on Saturday night and on the following day, activists and residents held a "Stand Up Against Hate" rally on Sunday, in response to the graffiti messages and the recent uptick in hate crimes across the states following the election.
Police are investigating the hateful graffiti at the Brooklyn Heights park which is named after the late, founding Beastie Boys member Adam Yauch who passed away in 2012. He was 47.
Amongst the protesters on Sunday were actor Ben Stiller and the rap group’s Ad Rock who spoke at the rally calling on others to make their voices heard. “I’m assuming that we’re all here today because we’re thinking the same thing,” he began, “spray painting swastikas at a children’s playground is a messed up thing to do.”
“And for many of us, it has special meaning, because this park is named for Adam Yauch, who was my friend and bandmate for over 30 years. But he was also someone who taught non-violence in his music, in his life—to all of us, and to me.” Watch his entire speech below.
