According to the New York Police Department, the 41 confirmed hate crimes targeting Jews in May represented a 46 percent jump over the average for the previous three months, with incidents recorded in February, March, and April at 21, 32, and 30 respectively. The monthly figure equated to an average of one antisemitic hate crime every 18 hours. Despite Jews comprising approximately 10 percent of the city's population, they are targeted in hate crimes more frequently than all other groups combined each month, though experts indicate that many incidents likely go unreported to authorities.

The hate crimes in May included a rash of swastika graffiti targeting synagogues and Jewish areas, vandalism of a kosher bagel shop, and assaults on public transportation. A New York University student, Alexander Stepnowsky, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with one count of hate crime burglary, two counts of aggravated harassment, and one count of criminal trespassing as a hate crime for allegedly flying a swastika flag over a university building. Stepnowsky, born in 2002, pleaded not guilty and was released on his own recognizance. The university stated in response that the symbols were antisemitic and hateful, vowing to pursue disciplinary procedures carrying the most severe consequences.

Compared to May 2025, antisemitic crimes increased 71 percent, while hate crimes against all groups rose 74 percent. Year-to-date figures show Jews have been targeted in 152 confirmed hate crimes, accounting for 57 percent of the total through the first five months of 2026. The increases present a challenge for Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who took office January 1 pledging to combat hatred in the city, though authorities note that hate crime prevalence is influenced by factors largely outside city government control, including social trends, national and international news, and seasonal weather patterns.