Jewish Artist Attacked After Protesting Anti-Semitic Monument in Vienna

Alon Yeshay, a Jewish-Austrian artist and former president of the Jewish Students Association in Austria, was physically and verbally assaulted in central Vienna after protesting an anti-Semitic monument. The incident occurred shortly after Yeshay participated in an academic art tour during which he spray-painted chalk and placed "shame" stickers on a monument dedicated to Karl Lueger, Vienna's mayor in the late 19th century, known for his prominent anti-Semitism and praised by Adolf Hitler in Mein Kampf.

Around 20 police officers arrived during the protest involving lecturers and intellectuals. Authorities filed charges against Yeshay and the vice-rector of the University of Arts for public order disruption and property damage. Witnesses reported police demanded Yeshay clean the monument himself, though police denied this claim. Yeshay refused, stating the chalk was water-soluble.

After police left, a passerby confronted Yeshay about his Jewish identity, calling him "the shame of Austria." Another individual then physically and verbally attacked the tour participants, shouting anti-Semitic slurs including "Jewish pigs" and "Hitler was an idol." Milly Lee Rabinowitz, chair of the Jewish Students Association present at the scene, condemned the police response, highlighting the contrast between the heavy police presence for chalk spray and the lack of protection against brutal anti-Semitic violence.

Yeshay emphasized that the event underscores the monument’s role in perpetuating and inciting anti-Semitism, reinforcing longstanding Jewish community and Holocaust survivor demands for its removal.