Mamdani denounces anti-Catholic vandalism in New York City

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani spoke out against two recent incidents of vandalism at Catholic churches in Queens as the New York City Police Department investigates the mid-March events as hate crimes.

“I’m deeply troubled by reports of vandalism targeting two Catholic churches in Far Rockaway. Everyone in our city deserves to practice their faith freely, without fear or intimidation,” Mamdani wrote on X on Friday.

The Mayor’s words come nearly a week after the latest incident of vandalism, as the NYPD investigates a March 21 spray-painting incident that took place at St. Rita’s Roman Catholic Church. The first incident occurred several weeks ago on March 14 at St. Gertrude’s Roman Catholic Church.

At St. Rita’s Roman Catholic Church, an unknown vandal suspect spray-painted a statue of St. Francis of Assisi outside the place of worship blue. The NYPD told the Washington Examiner that per the police report filed on