Volunteers turn up in droves to clean pavement outside a Jewish cafe on the Upper West Side was defaced on Sunday
March 18, 2024 16:30
ByEliana Jordan, Eliana Jordan
A kosher restaurant in Manhattan was defaced over the weekend with anti-Israel graffiti that read “join the line to support genocide” but locals have come out to help wash the message away.
[Missing Credit]
The Jewish-owned Effy’s Cafe, dubbed a “taste of Israel” for the Upper West Side, was vandalised in the early hours of Sunday morning. According to a representative for the restaurant, this is the first time Effy’s Cafe has been defaced since it opened in 2013.
Photos posted on X showed locals coming together to scrub away at the graffiti on the pavement outside Effy’s Cafe on W. 96th Street, which also read “Free Gaza” in green paint.
Upper West Siders coming together to clean up the antisemitic graffiti on Israeli Jewish Effy’s Cafe on W96th Street. @NYCMayor pic.twitter.com/qFwZvRiKTt
— Melanie Notkin (@SavvyAuntie) March 18, 2024
Members of the Jewish community on the Upper West Side came together to wash away the graffiti on Monday morning, according to an eyewitness source at the scene, who said volunteers have continued to arrive to assist in the effort.
(Photo: Melanie Notkin)[Missing Credit]
Upper West Side Jews have grit! pic.twitter.com/BO4A2cUdVH
— Melanie Notkin (@SavvyAuntie) March 18, 2024
According to the restaurant representative, the owner, who is Israeli and Jewish, did not contact the NYPD to report the vandalism.
(NYC) 96th & Columbus: Israeli/Jewish owned “Effy’s Cafe” is targeted and terribly vandalized. The owners are known and beloved to the community.
— Manhattan Mingle (@ManhattanMingle) March 18, 2024
Anti Zionism = Anti Semitism.
Never again is NOW. pic.twitter.com/gaFNw4I2tF