anti-hate

Beastie Boys’ Ad-Rock and Supporters Hold Anti-Hate Rally at Brooklyn’s Adam Yauch Park

Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

In response to the anti-Semitic, pro-Trump swastika graffiti that appeared in Brooklyn Heights’ Adam Yauch Park this past week, Yauch’s fellow Beastie Boy Adam Horovitz and several hundred supporters gathered this morning in the park to speak out against racism and hate. “Spray-painting swastikas in a children’s playground is a messed-up thing to do,” said Horowitz, who delivered a speech to the crowd. “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 nonviolence in his music, in his life, to all of us, and to me.”

Page Six reports that Horovitz also pointed to the pattern of racist incidents following Donald Trump’s election, saying in part, “These incidents and this type of graffiti have been popping up all over our country because we’ve elected a president that’s given our children the message that it’s okay to write ‘white power’ in their high-school hallways. That it’s okay to attack to women and girls. That Latinos and Muslims and Jews are bad people and that you can electroshock the gay out of somebody.” Supporters turned out with hand-made signs and decorated Adam Yauch Park with flowers and chalk drawings. The graffiti has since been painted over by the city.

Beastie Boys Supporters Hold Anti-Hate Rally