'Dem activist and former City Hall anti-hate crime staffer' charged with antisemitic vandalism & arson in NYC

New York City police had been seeking a suspect for antisemitic vandalism and arson:

There‘s no place for hate in NYC.

WANTED FOR AGGRAVATED HARASSMENT: On 11/1 at 8:30 pm, the suspect entered 17 Eastern Parkway (Union Temple) in #Brooklyn and wrote anti-Semitic statements in black marker throughout the building. Call @NYPDTips at #800577TIPS with any info. pic.twitter.com/8HHU0uupCP

— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) November 2, 2018

Following in the wake of the Union Temple hate incident, antisemitism strikes again, this time in Williamsburg. Early this morning, the NYPD's 90th Precinct received reports of fires at seven locations in South Williamsburg, all of them Hasidic shuls or yeshivas.

— (((Stephen Levin))) (@StephenLevin33) November 2, 2018

An arrest has been made:

NYPD arrests James Polite — the man they say is in this surveillance picture – in connection with anti Semitic graffiti found inside Union Temple in Prospect Heights. He’s believed to have also set fires outside schuls & yeshivas in Williamsburg @CBSNewYork pic.twitter.com/WMm4UznAvf

— Jessica Layton (@JLaytonTV) November 3, 2018

UPDATE: The individual wanted for anti-Semitic graffiti at Union Temple in #Brooklyn has been APPREHENDED thanks to the hard working officers that are out there every day and night keeping this city safe. #NYPDProtecting https://t.co/zLFiDe2GCp

— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) November 3, 2018

NYPD arrested James Polite, 26, and charged him with criminal mischief as a hate crime, making graffiti, and arson for these fires. He has been reportedly admitted to a hospital psychiatric ward for observation. https://t.co/zPJI1iNY1c

— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) November 3, 2018

There’s also an ironic twist to the story, considering what the kind of work the suspect used to do:

The suspect in the vandalism of a New York synagogue was a Democratic activist and former City Hall intern who worked on anti-hate crime issues, The Daily Caller News Foundation has learned.

He is a “queer” black man informally adopted by a Jewish couple, and The New York Times’ charity, the Neediest Cases, helped pay for him to go to college where his focus was African American studies, according to a 2017 New York Times profile.

A political event with two Democratic candidates at the Union Temple of Brooklyn was canceled Friday after attendees found graffiti saying “Die Jew Rats” and “Hitler,” which one of the candidates said highlighted the need to vote out “hate.” Police arrested 26-year old James Polite later that night based on surveillance footage.

“He is also suspected of setting a rubbish fire at another Brooklyn synagogue on Friday prior to his arrest,” Fox News reported.

Quinn's response to the arrest:https://t.co/EfrRdq5L95

— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) November 3, 2018

pic.twitter.com/DxMF4uQ1r8

— Christine Quinn (@chriscquinn) November 3, 2018

NYT: The 142 "anti-Semitic incidents have constituted half of all hate crimes in New York this year," per NYPD. 4x as many crimes motivated by bias against Jews as there have against blacks. More than crimes against transgender people by a factor of 20.https://t.co/bc9byxh8dn

— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) November 3, 2018

The Left’s preferred narrative also takes a hit here:

From same NYT story, and of significance: "During the past 22 months, not one person caught or identified as the aggressor in an anti-Semitic hate crime has been associated with a far right-wing group," per NYPD.

— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) November 3, 2018