NYPD: James Ryan Charged With Hate Crime For Spray Painting Swastikas In Lower Manhattan

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Police arrested the man they say has been spray painting swastikas across Lower Manhattan

James Ryan, 39, was taken into custody Thursday on charges of criminal mischief as a hate crime and aggravated harassment.

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Surveillance video showed a man drawing a swastika on a pillar at City Hall on Monday evening.

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Investigators said the same man spray painted a swastika on the Charging Bull statue Tuesday.

Earlier this month, he’s accused of drawing three swastikas on the wall of a construction site on Maiden Lane.

Gov. Kathy Hochul directed the New York State Police to assist in the investigation.

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“I am appalled and disgusted that a swastika was scrawled on the wall of the Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall subway station. No one should walk the streets in fear of hate, bigotry and antisemitism,” Hochul said in a statement earlier this week. “An attack on a Jewish New Yorker is an attack on all of us. If you commit a hate crime, you are picking a fight with 20 million New Yorkers. We are united in saying that hate has no home here in New York.