Police confirmed that a disturbing flag featuring two swastikas surrounding a Star of David was briefly flown atop a building at New York University on Wednesday, near Washington Square Park. The offensive banner was designed to mimic the university's official purple flags but was quickly removed. According to the student newspaper, the flag appeared around 5 p.m. and was taken down approximately 15 minutes later, prompting a 911 call reporting harassment.

NYU spokesman Wiley Norvell expressed shock, stating the university was troubled by the display of antisemitic symbolism and was cooperating with the NYPD to find the perpetrator. The incident occurred during 'Grad Alley,' a campus event celebrating graduating students and their families. The flag was positioned on the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development building.

Student leaders, including Adina Fridman of NYU's Hillel chapter, condemned the act, emphasizing the profound offense caused by equating Nazi symbolism with Israel or Jewish people. This event followed recent campus tension over the selection of commencement speaker Jonathan Haidt, whose criticism of diversity efforts had drawn objections from student government leaders.