Teen anti-Israel protestor is arrested for defacing WWI memorial in Central Park as mayor offers to personally fund reward for help locating other vandals

An anti-Israel teenage protestor was arrested for defacing a World World I memorial in Central Park in New York City.

The boy, 16, is accused of of being part of a group that vandalized the 107th Infantry Memorial in a Monday night demonstration where hundreds marched from Hunter College to the Met Gala.

The historic memorial was vandalized by several demonstrators who sprayed 'Gaza' and 'Free Palestine' on its base. 

The vandals also plastered the statue with anti-Israel stickers and one protester was seen burning the American flag as others held up Palestinian flags.

The defacing of the memorial prompted mayor Eric Adams to offer $5,000 of his own money for information leading to the arrest of the suspects, who he called 'cowards.'

The boy, 16, is accused of of being part of a group that vandalized the 107th Infantry Memorial in a Monday night demonstration

The arrested teen has been a constant presence at rallies organized by the pro-Palestine activist group Within Our Lifetime

The historic memorial was vandalized by several demonstrators who sprayed 'Gaza' and 'Free Palestine' on its base

The vandals also plastered the statue with anti-Israel stickers and one protester was seen burning the American flag

The Democrat said: 'I want to be extremely clear. In spite of the unpopular notion that people don't want to say it -- I want to say it -- I love America. And the reason we are here is because of men and women like the statue behind us.

'And we cannot remain silent when our symbols of freedom are desecrated by individuals who clearly hate our country and hate our way of life. 

'I am not going to remain silent and we should not remain silent, because our silence gives the belief that everything is OK, and it is not OK.'

CrimeStoppers has also offered a $10,000 reward and police have put up posters with images of the suspects near the statue.

The arrested teen has been a constant presence at rallies organized by the pro-Palestine activist group Within Our Lifetime, according to the New York Post.

An American flag was left burning on the ground while chants of 'Free Palestine' rang out

The defacing of the memorial prompted mayor Eric Adams to offer $5,000 of his own money for information leading to the arrest of the suspects

He is facing two felony counts of third-degree criminal mischief, and two counts of making graffiti.

NYPD Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry shared an image of the boy in handcuffs along with a warning message.

'The despicable vandalism we saw earlier this week on the WWI Memorial will not be ignored, and will not go unpunished,' Daughtry said on X.

'One of the culprits was placed in handcuffs today thanks to the World’s Greatest Detectives. This isn’t simply juvenile hijinks- it’s an act of desecration that undermines the freedoms our heroes fought and died for.'

The spray-painted messages on the statue had been cleaned by Tuesday afternoon. 

He is facing two counts of third-degree criminal mischief, and two counts of making graffiti

One thousand pro-Palestine protestors clashed with the NYPD just a block away from New York's Met Gala on Monday evening

Police face pro-Palestinian demonstrators near the Met Gala

Vandals also desecrated the Civil War Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman monument at Grand Army Plaza on 59th Street on Monday night.

The memorial honors the soldiers who died in World War, depicting them in the throes of battle.

The soldiers of the  Seventh Regiment’s 107th Infantry helped to break Germany’s Hindenburg Line of defense at the conclusion of World War I, according to the Central Park Conservancy.

It was dedicated on September 29, 1927, with its location chosen because of its proximity to the Regiment’s Armory just to the east on Park Avenue.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).