NEW YORK CITY: In a series of startling incidents over the weekend in New York City, three residents were caught red-handed tearing down posters that highlighted the Israeli child hostages held by the Palestinian militant group Hamas since October 7. One of those involved in this confrontation was Marc Louvet.
The vandals are part of a broader group of pro-Palestine activists who have taken it upon themselves to remove these posters from New York and other Western cities.
Daily Mail has identified the trio as Marc Louvet, a 45-year-old French financier associated with the investment firm VanEck, and Kelly and Noah Schaffer, a couple residing in Brooklyn.
Among them, Louvet is at the center of controversy, prompting an immediate response from his employer, VanEck.
Where was Marc Louvet employed?
Louvet, a 45-year-old financier originally from France who was employed in an investment firm VanEck, has recently made headlines for his contentious actions surrounding the posters.
A video capturing Louvet being confronted after tearing down posters of Israeli hostages on Manhattan's Upper East Side emerged over the weekend, igniting public outrage.
VanEck swiftly disassociated from his actions, strongly condemning them and subsequently placing him on immediate leave, with termination pending.
In a statement, the company stated, "In no way does VanEck endorse such actions or statements, nor do we support the actions of terrorists in any way. Such insinuations are hurtful and damaging to the company and our Israeli colleagues, family, and friends. We are investigating the facts around the incident and our legal options concerning the employee whom we have placed on immediate leave and expect to terminate."
A glimpse into Marc Louvet's background
Louvet's past and associations have come under scrutiny in light of his involvement in the poster-removal incident. Hailing from France, he is an alumnus of New York University, providing some context to his ties to New York City.
VanEck, the company that employed Louvet, is an investment management firm specializing in active and passive strategies, offering diverse investment opportunities and portfolio diversification. Louvet's actions have underscored the company's commitment to distancing itself from his controversial conduct.
As of now, Louvet has not responded to his pending termination, and his social media pages, which have since been deleted, primarily featured personal photos from beach trips with his girlfriend.
Internet reacts to Marc Louvet's pending termination from VanEck
The people of the internet have been quick to respond to VanEck's decision to disassociate from Louvet in the wake of his actions. On various platforms, netizens expressed their opinions.
A user on X wrote, "There is no room for antisemitism in America." Another internet user couldn't resist a touch of humor, commenting, "Lol, what a loser. Many rabid antisemitism folks coming out of the woodworks."
A third user expressed gratitude towards VanEck, saying, "VanEck, happy to see you have morals, great response, thank you." On a more consequential note, someone remarked, "No unemployment benefits for him either."
A fifth user applauded responsible corporate behavior, writing, "Wonderful. Employers doing the right thing here."
Pro-Palestine activism in New York City in the wake of Israel-Hamas war
In a separate incident, a couple, Noah Schaffer, self-described as a 'magician,' and his wife, Kelly Schaffer, a city social worker and protester, were captured on video tearing down additional posters.
When confronted, Kelly remained silent while clutching the posters. In response, Noah ridiculed a Jewish woman recording the incident, asserting, "We don't consent to you recording us."
The incidents involving Louvet and the Schaffers are part of a growing list of actions by students and pro-Palestine protesters who have been filmed removing posters of Jewish hostages in New York City.
The city's Mayor, Eric Adams, has consistently expressed support for the Jewish community since the conflict began.
Although there have been several pro-Palestine protests in New York City since the violence in the Middle East, none have escalated into violent or unruly situations.
