A staffer from New York City's Mayor Eric Adams' administration, tasked with promoting "unity" and bridging "cultural divides," is facing criticism after allegedly ripping down an Israeli hostage poster and assaulting an eyewitness.
Nallah Sutherland, a special event coordinator for the Mayor’s Office of Special Projects and Community Events, was filmed earlier this month tearing down a poster on an Upper East Side light pole.
The poster, part of a public awareness campaign highlighting Israeli and American hostages taken during the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, was shredded and discarded by Sutherland, according to footage shared by the nonprofit StopAntisemitism.
The act has sparked outrage, with Liora Rez, the founder of StopAntisemitism, calling it "an appalling act of antisemitism" and demanding that Sutherland be fired. Despite the severity of the incident, sources told The Post that Sutherland only received a minor reprimand from her supervisors: a requirement to undergo "multicultural training" and a disciplinary note added to her file.
An eyewitness to the event asked Sutherland, “Is there a reason you’re taking those down?” as she removed the poster, which had been placed to raise awareness of hostages held by Hamas.
Sutherland, 25, joined Adams' administration in 2023 and earns $61,135 annually. She plays a role in organizing events that celebrate the city’s diverse communities, aiming to foster unity and resilience among New Yorkers.
* The New York Post contributed to this article.