Philadelphia Jewish museum vandalized with antisemitic graffiti, third attack in nearly a year
On Thursday evening, the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia was defaced with antisemitic graffiti, marking the museum's third such attack in less than a year. Around 8:15 p.m., a man scrawled a hateful message on the yellow OY/YO sculpture outside the museum, situated near the Delaware River in Old City, the historic district of Philadelphia.
The inscription has since been removed, but officers have not yet identified the perpetrator. Surveillance footage captured the suspect taking the destructive action before boarding a train at a nearby station. Police have urged anyone with pertinent information to come forward. Pennsylvania state Rep. Tarik Khan, a Democrat, discovered the vandalism and reported it to authorities.
Khan, who has deep connections to the Jewish community, emphasized the need to combat hate and intolerance. Andrew Goretsky, senior regional director of the Anti-Defamation League in Philadelphia, expressed frustration with the incident, noting that antisemitic vandalism in Pennsylvania increased from 29 in 2022 to 80 in 2025. The museum's OY/YO sculpture, crafted by Jewish artist Deborah Kass, symbolizes American values and the fight against hatred.
The sculpture, with its bilingual inscription, stands as a reminder of the shared responsibility to stand against bigotry.
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