Pro-Hamas Activists Vandalize Bklyn Heights Home of Columbia U’s COO; Use Psychological Warfare Tactics

Pro-Hamas Activists Vandalize Bklyn Heights Home of Columbia U’s COO; Use Psychological Warfare Tactics

Edited by: Fern Sidman

In a brazen act of vandalism and intimidation, anti-Israel attackers targeted the Brooklyn Heights residence of Cas Holloway, the Chief Operating Officer of Columbia University. According to a report that appeared on Thursday in the New York Post, the early morning assault has left the local community deeply disturbed as well as raising concerns about the escalation of politically motivated violence in New York City.

🚨@Columbia COO Cas Holloway was the victim of terrifying vandalism this morning.
It included spray painting of a red triangle on the front of his residence, splattered red paint, smashing of his door & release of crickets in his home.
🔻 is used by Hm@s to identify targets. pic.twitter.com/LjaU0v1df8

— Manhattan Mingle (@ManhattanMingle) August 8, 2024

The assailants, who remain unidentified, executed their attack with chilling precision. They unleashed live crickets and mealworms in the lobby of Holloway’s apartment building on Orange Street, creating a chaotic scene reminiscent of psychological warfare tactics, as was reported in The Post. The insects, a symbol of discomfort and infestation, were reportedly released as a form of intimidation, with the vandals later gloating about the act in a menacing note addressed to Holloway.

The perpetrators didn’t stop at the insect invasion. They also broke a glass door and defaced the exterior of the building with splatters of red paint. Most notably, they spray-painted inverted red triangles near the entrance—a symbol historically used by Hamas to mark Israeli military targets, as per the information provided in The Post report. More recently, this symbol has been appropriated by anti-Israel activists in the United States, particularly at tent encampment protests that have sprung up across the country. The use of this symbol on Holloway’s building was an unmistakable message, linking the attack to broader anti-Israel sentiments and ongoing protests.

BREAKING: CJAA statement on vandalism of @Columbia leader’s home; resignation of three Deans – all on the same day.

“The vandalism of Cas Holloway’s home is a SHOCKING REMINDER that when a university fails to enforce its own rules, CHAOS REIGNS. It’s time for Columbia to stop… pic.twitter.com/Taj3BmNEJd

— Columbia Jewish Alumni Assoc. (@CU_JewishAlumni) August 9, 2024

This incident was not just an act of random vandalism but a calculated attack on Holloway personally. The vandals left behind posters bearing Holloway’s name and photograph, accompanied by a scathing critique of his role in managing the violent anti-Israel protests that occurred at Columbia University’s Morningside Heights campus earlier this year. As was indicated in The Post report, the note left behind was both accusatory and threatening, making it clear that the attack was a direct response to what the vandals perceived as Holloway’s complicity in the “brutalization” of students who protested against what they described as the “genocide of Palestinians.”

Red paint is splattered across @Columbia COO Cas Holloway’s apartment. They’ve spray painted a red triangle, smashed his front door, and released crickets. Their letter notes, “Since you became the Chief Operating Officer of Columbia University on January 30, 2024, you have done… pic.twitter.com/cfXPokUC59

— Myles Miller (@MylesMill) August 8, 2024

The tone of the note was one of vengeance. The vandals taunted Holloway, asking if their “present” had made him uncomfortable and ominously suggesting that the memory of the crickets would linger long after they were gone, according to the information contained in The Post report. This psychological element of the attack adds a deeply personal and menacing dimension to the crime, signaling that the attackers are willing to go to great lengths to make their point.

The community’s response has been one of shock and concern. Residents, awakened in the early hours by the disturbance, quickly alerted the NYPD, who arrived on the scene to investigate. The Post report explained that officers were seen collecting evidence, including the soda-can-sized container labeled “Live insects,” which had been used to transport the crickets and mealworms. The incident has undoubtedly rattled the residents of this usually quiet Brooklyn neighborhood, raising questions about safety and the potential for further politically motivated attacks.

This act of vandalism also highlights the intensifying nature of anti-Israel activism in the United States. What once might have been confined to protests and demonstrations has now crossed a line into targeted harassment and intimidation of individuals perceived to be on the “wrong” side of the issue. The use of symbols associated with Hamas, combined with the personal nature of the attack on Holloway, underscores the dangerous intersection of political activism and violent extremism.

This incident is not an isolated case but part of a broader and troubling pattern of similar acts of vandalism across New York City. Just a day before the attack on Holloway’s home, a New York City journalist was arrested for allegedly participating in a group of anti-Semitic vandals, as was noted in The Post report. This group had been linked to a series of red paint splattering incidents, including one at the nearby apartment of the Jewish head of the Brooklyn Museum. The Post report observed that the timing and similarity of these attacks suggest a coordinated effort by certain pro-Hamas groups to target individuals and institutions associated with Israel or perceived as supporting Israeli policies.

These incidents are not confined to New York. Last month, pro-Hamas protesters made headlines for a similar stunt at the Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C., where they released crickets and maggots in protest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit, according to the information in The Post report. The use of insects and red paint has become a hallmark of these demonstrations, symbolic acts meant to discomfort and intimidate their targets.

The residents of Holloway’s building were left to grapple with the aftermath of the attack. While some expressed anger, others were more reflective, questioning the effectiveness and morality of such tactics.

The Post report said that one tenant, who preferred to remain anonymous, articulated a sentiment shared by many: “They are protesting all these institutional investments in Israel—that’s what they say it is. It’s not helping the situation.” This resident, while not intimidated, was visibly upset by the attack. She expressed support for the right to protest but condemned the methods used, saying, “Protesting is great, but not like this.”

Jeff Drew, a long-time resident of the building, voiced similar frustrations. Having lived there since 1998, Drew had seen his share of neighborhood changes, but this attack struck a nerve. “It sucks, but you know we will clean it up,” he told The Post, his tone one of resignation rather than fear. “I’m more frustrated by people who think like paint is going to impact whatever they want changed.”

Drew’s remarks underscore a growing sense of disillusionment with these acts of vandalism, which many see as counterproductive. “If you ask a Palestinian in Palestine, will they say this helped? I don’t think so,” he added while speaking with The Post, highlighting the disconnect between the activists’ intentions and the actual impact of their actions.

Columbia University has made it clear that it will not tolerate acts of vandalism, threats, or personal attacks against its community members. The Post reported that in a statement released shortly after the incident, a university spokesperson stated, “Columbia unequivocally condemns vandalism, threats, and personal attacks. Anyone engaging in such activity will be reported to law enforcement and face appropriate discipline. Every member of our community deserves to feel safe, valued, and able to thrive.”

The attack on Holloway’s residence unfolded just hours before a separate but related controversy emerged within Columbia’s administration. Three deans resigned from the university after it was revealed that they had exchanged disparaging texts during a panel discussion on anti-Semitism on campus, as was revealed in The Post report. The texts, which Columbia President Minouche Shafik criticized for “disturbingly touching on ancient anti-Semitic tropes,” added fuel to the already raging fire of controversy surrounding the university’s handling of issues related to Israel and Jewish identity.

The vandalism at Holloway’s home has drawn strong reactions from various community leaders, including Mark Treyger, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York. Treyger condemned the attack as a “disgusting and despicable act,” likening it to the anti-Semitic violence that preceded and accompanied the Holocaust.

“There is an orchestrated effort to disassociate Jewish identity from colleges, museums, hospitals, and everyday life—which is straight out of the 1930s Nazi playbook,” Treyger told The Post, highlighting the historical significance of the red triangles used in the attack. “Red triangles were used as badges placed onto Jews by the Nazis in concentration camps during the Holocaust. This despicable and disgusting act reinforces what we already know.”

Treyger’s comments reflect a growing concern within the Jewish community that the resurgence of anti-Semitic symbols and rhetoric in modern protests is not merely coincidental, but rather indicative of a broader, more insidious movement to marginalize Jewish individuals and institutions.

The use of red triangles in the attack on Holloway’s residence has been particularly alarming to many observers. Far from being “randomly scribbled shapes,” as Treyger pointed out while speaking with The Post, these triangles carry a heavy historical burden. During the Holocaust, Nazis used red triangles to mark political prisoners, including Jews, in concentration camps. The symbol’s reappearance in contemporary acts of vandalism is a chilling reminder of the persistence of anti-Semitic ideologies and the ways in which they are being repurposed in modern contexts.