The Israeli flag along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway was alleged vandalized with smears of red paint sometime Friday morning, NBC 10 reported, adding that the Philadelphia Police Department is investigating.
Deborah Project Legal Director Lori Lowenthal Marcus posted a photo of the defaced flag on X.
Local organizations responded to the incident.
“The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia strongly condemns the vandalism of an Israeli flag on Benjamin Franklin Parkway this morning,” a spokesperson wrote. “This defacement following last night’s terror attack in Israel meant to threaten and intimidate the Greater Philadelphia Jewish community, further contributing to rising levels of antisemitism nationally. We appreciate the work of Mayor Parker’s office to swiftly remove the defaced flag, sending a clear message that there is no tolerance for antisemitism and hate in Philadelphia.”
The American Jewish Committee Philadelphia/Southern New Jersey responded as well.
“Along the iconic Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia, a coward defaced an Israeli flag with red paint near a Holocaust memorial. Let’s be clear: this is an act of intimidation against the Jewish community,” the organization wrote. “But we won’t be intimidated. We are resilient and we are strong. We commend @PhillyMayor Parker and @PhillyPolice for swiftly replacing the flag and launching an investigation.”
By Friday afternoon, a new Israeli flag was hanging on its designated flagpole near the Horwitz-Wasserman Holocaust Memorial Plaza.