An alleged vandal marked the 9/11 Memorial Reflecting Pool with red spray paint in broad daylight.
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The Activist Was Arrested
According to the New York Post, 31-year-old Jonathan Andrew Tijerina allegedly tagged a section of the North Tower at the memorial site. He wrote the name of his website on the evening of Monday, Oct. 26.
"Juststopkillingkids.com," read the message. It was written in red spray paint across the dozens of names of the victims engraved into the memorial. It is the site of the Sep. 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center.
Tijerina also took credit for the act. He then posted an Instagram video showing himself doing it from start to finish. Police say the act cost over $2,500 in damages.
"My name is Jon Tijerina, and I've just spray-painted 'just stop killing kids' on the 9/11 Memorial," the alleged vandal said.
The Spray Paint Has Been Removed From the 9/11 Memorial Reflecting Pool
The 9/11 Memorial and Museums said it has since removed the spray paint.
"The 9/11 Memorial is a sacred place of reflection at the heart of a rebuilt World Trade Center that honors the 2,983 victims killed in the September 11, 2001, and February 26, 1993, terrorist attacks. Yesterday's brief incident was swiftly addressed by security staff and law enforcement, and the impacted area was immediately restored to its commemorative state," said a spokesperson.
The website Tijerina promoted in connection with his alleged vandalism also states "nonviolent civil resistance" is the way to change gun laws. It also said the mass shooting after the Florida A&M homecoming football game was a reason for his alleged vandalism.
Tijerina also believes his arrest was a win. He said he did it in an attempt to get the attention of President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The site also called for universal background checks and a universal gun registry.
"We have two specific, achievable demands," the website also states. "Both have majority public support. Both already exist in other high-income countries. Neither requires repealing the Second Amendment. We are not asking for the impossible — we are asking for what every other wealthy democracy already has."
