A 31-year-old man has been arrested in New York City after allegedly spray-painting the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, defacing a section bearing victims' names with the address of his anti-gun website.
A 31-year-old man has been arrested in New York City after allegedly spray-painting the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, defacing a section bearing victims' names with the address of his anti-gun website.
Jonathan Tijerina faces charges of criminal mischief and making graffiti after he allegedly sprayed red paint and the name juststopkillingkids.com on the memorial, the Washington Examiner reported. The incident occurred on Monday but did not draw wide attention on social media until Wednesday.
Several politicians and candidates, mostly Republicans, have expressed outrage over the vandalism.
The 9/11 Memorial and Museum, in Lower Manhattan, commemorates the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The 9/11 Memorial is a national landmark honoring the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks, and the graffiti targeted the panels bearing their names, giving the vandalism national significance.
- The episode has become a political flashpoint, with mostly Republican politicians and candidates condemning it during the midterm campaign season.
- Tijerina now faces criminal charges, and the memorial's name panels will need to be restored.
Background
The 9/11 Memorial and Museum was built at the site of the World Trade Center in New York, destroyed in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Its reflecting pools are ringed with bronze panels inscribed with the names of those killed, and the site hosts annual remembrance ceremonies on the anniversary of the attacks.
What to Watch
- The criminal case against Tijerina as it proceeds through the courts on the charges of criminal mischief and making graffiti.
- Whether the vandalism becomes a campaign talking point in the midterm elections, given the political reaction it has already drawn.
- The extent of the damage to the memorial's name panels and any restoration work required.
Checked
7 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 5 supported.
Show each claim
- Partly supportedThe man was arrested over red paint graffiti on victims’ names.Washington Examiner: “Jonathan Tijerina, 31, was arrested on charges of criminal mischief and making graffiti for spray-painting the name of his anti-gun website, juststopkillingkids.com, on the part of the memorial that featured victims’ names.”
- SupportedJonathan Tijerina faces criminal mischief and graffiti charges.Washington Examiner: “Jonathan Tijerina, 31, was arrested on charges of criminal mischief and making graffiti for spray-painting the name of his anti-gun website, juststopkillingkids.com, on the part of the memorial that featured victims’ names.”
- SupportedPoliticians and candidates, mostly Republicans, expressed outrage over the vandalism.Washington Examiner: “Several politicians and candidates, mostly Republicans, expressed their outrage after a man allegedly vandalized the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York City by spraying red paint on the landmark earlier this week.”
- SupportedA 31-year-old man was arrested in New York City after allegedly spray-painting the memorial and museum.Washington Examiner: “Several politicians and candidates, mostly Republicans, expressed their outrage after a man allegedly vandalized the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York City by spraying red paint on the landmark earlier this week. Jonathan Tijerina, 31, was arrested”
- SupportedThe website name was painted on a section of the memorial bearing victims’ names, and it was Tijerina’s anti-gun website.Washington Examiner: “Jonathan Tijerina, 31, was arrested on charges of criminal mischief and making graffiti for spray-painting the name of his anti-gun website, juststopkillingkids.com, on the part of the memorial that featured victims’ names.”
- SupportedThe incident occurred on Monday and did not gain wide social-media attention until Wednesday.Washington Examiner: “The incident occurred on Monday, but it didn’t widely gain traction on social media until Wednesday.”
- Not in the sourcesThe 9/11 Memorial and Museum is in Lower Manhattan and commemorates the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks.Washington Examiner: “the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York City”