First Amendment

New York's Controversial Anti-Swastika Law Turns Prosecutors Into Speech Police

Graffiti vandals are now being investigated for hate crimes.

Meagan O'Rourke | Coming: From the November 2026 issue

(Photo: Graffiti on the Rego Park Jewish Center in Queens, New York; Rep. Grace Meng (D–N.Y.)/X)

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Meagan O'Rourke is an associate editor at Reason.

First AmendmentCivil LibertiesHate crimesNew YorkState GovernmentsFree SpeechProsecutorsNazisCourtsCrime