NYU student accused of raising swastika flag at campus site dedicated to Jewish donor shows face in Manhattan court

NY Post ^ | 08/04/2026 | Steve Hirsch

[Jan_Sobieski]

Here is the first look at the preppy NYU student from Connecticut accused of raising a flag bearing two swastikas next to a Star of David at a campus building dedicated to a Jewish donor.

Alexander Stepnowsky, 23, wore a baby-blue button-down shirt and tan khakis to his routine preliminary Manhattan court hearing Tuesday in his hate-crimes case stemming from the disturbing May incident.

The pupil hoisted the troubling banner — which also included a New York University logo and was designed to look like one of the prestigious school’s purple-and-white flags — during this year’s graduation festivities, prosecutors claim.

Stepnowsky has pleaded not guilty to charges of burglary and criminal trespass as a hate crime, as well as first-degree aggravated harassment…

---

TOPICS: Education; Religion
KEYWORDS: alexanderstepnowsky; democratterrorism; democrwtterrorist; israel; jews; nazi; nyu; whatshisfrnick

[Jan_Sobieski]

This generation has been so indoctrinated in public schools and social media, they’re almost beyond reach. A 30 second sound bite is more authoritative to them than 80 years of historical peer reviewed research. They’ll bow to Islam when the time comes...

Proverbs 30:11 There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother. 12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. 13 There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up. 14 There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.

[wastedyears]

This generation has been so indoctrinated in public schools and social media, they’re almost beyond reach.

Who owned the companies that created those textbooks?

[Libloather]

[Liz]

NYU-student shows face in Manhattan court-----arrested, charged w/ hate crime.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

While what this student did is loathsome, I really don’t like the idea of him being charged with a “hate crime.” If he trespassed to raise the flag, charge him with trespass and give him a sentence based on that alone. But don’t enhance the punishment with hate crime sentencing guidelines. This is especially troubling because the hate crime advocates swore up and down that the hate crime enhancement was only going to be used in violent crimes. If someone beat a victim because the victim was Jewish or gay or black or white, etc., then the assault charge would be amplified with the hate crime. But now it appears that hate crime is being used to amplify trespass.

[Jan_Sobieski]

I agree. Hate crime is thoughtcrime. Notice they always favor Islam

[allendale]

Very true. If you find offense in what a person writes or says, a political prosecutor can turn any infraction into a “hate crime”. Eventually such prosecutions will collide with 1st Admendment free speech rights and these “hate crime” laws will again be considered by the Supreme Court. However would not expect the ACLU to lead the charge.

[Angelino97]

I agree. Hate crime is thoughtcrime. Notice they always favor Islam

Not always. In this case "hate crime" favors Jews. It often favors blacks. And sometimes it favors gays and trannies.

[Bon of Babble]

If he’s raised an LGBTQ or trans flag, it will be allowed to stand - and the trespasser a hero to the left.

[albie]

Empty headed punk

[Eccl 10:2]

Since his name ends in “-sky”, there is a good chance he was born a Jew. If so, this is really pathetic, as is his entire family.

[mac_truck]

Meh...an objective comparison of Hitler's Germany and Netanyahu's Israel would show a lot more similarities than you'd care to admit.

[glennaro]

Your comparison would also apply directly to FDR’s camps under the Democrat Party, now properly identified as the Democrat/Communist/Jihadist Party.

[Macoozie]

Stupid college kid waves a stupid flag for attention.

And folks get all wee-wee’d up?

Sue the phookin beelzebubs out of any infringement on free your speech.
Where’s the ACLU? or is it now AIPAC/ACLU?

Free speech for all, every where.

[daku]

… “ Alexander Stepnowsky, 23, wore a baby-blue button-down shirt and tan khakis … “

From his Proud Boys costume collection

[Bigg Red]

I despise little punks like this, and what he did is despicable, but I dislike the whole “hate crime” concept.

[Bigg Red]

Yep

[Leaning Right]

This guy should do a little research into the French and Russian revolutions.

In both cases, silly amateurs (like this guy) were eventually executed by the serious revolutionaries.

Hopefully, he will get that reading done while sitting in a jail cell.

[Reily]

With the reading he’ll convince himself he’s Robespierre!

[Svartalfiar]

Burglary? Is this flagpole inside a building? I dunno about NY law, but doesn’t burglary require a theft component also?

Tresspass? Isn’t he a student here? And besides, most campi are generally open to public entry anyway. Did he have some kind of order banning him from being on school premesis?

This may be a prank in poor taste, but I fail to see anything criminal in what he did...