A man was reportedly arrested on June 15 for allegedly punching a Jewish child on Melrose Avenue on June 15.
Eve Barlow, a Los Angeles-based Scottish journalist and Zionist activist, tweeted that “a man punched a visibly Jewish child in the face while he was playing on scooters with his friends.” A friend of hers confronted the assailant before the assailant was arrested.
Additionally, Barlow shared a video of a man walking with a bicycle saying he was going to kill the Jewish child’s family as well as Barlow’s friend’s family.
Today on Melrose Ave, a man punched a visibly Jewish child in the face while he was playing on scooters with his friends. A friend of mine confronted him before he was arrested and another man came to the guy’s defence and said he wanted to kill the boy’s entire Jewish family.
— Eve Barlow (@Eve_Barlow) June 16, 2021
This is not normal. The regularity of these types of attacks is not normal. In broad daylight. Sharing these images with permission. The boy in the blue shirt was attacked. pic.twitter.com/yz4SXEoz7L
— Eve Barlow (@Eve_Barlow) June 16, 2021
This man on the bike said he’d kill the Jewish family and then threatened to come after my friend’s family. pic.twitter.com/4sAcNRpGM8
— Eve Barlow (@Eve_Barlow) June 16, 2021
— Eve Barlow (@Eve_Barlow) June 16, 2021
A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) told the Journal that the attack took place on Melrose and Formosa; the suspect, identified as Daniel Rankin, 50, faces a felony battery charge and did not say anything about the victim’s religion. The victim, a 12-year-old male, was “was treated at [the] scene and not transported,” according to the spokesperson.
Jewish groups condemned the attack.
“We are outraged over reports of a violent assault on a Jewish child while playing with his friends and thank @LAPD for investigating,” Anti-Defamation League Los Angeles tweeted. “We have seen a significant rise in antisemitism in recent weeks and are working with community organizations and law enforcement to stop the hate.”
We are outraged over reports of a violent assault on a Jewish child while playing with his friends and thank @LAPD for investigating. We have seen a significant rise in antisemitism in recent weeks and are working with community organizations and law enforcement to stop the hate. https://t.co/wWfr76pbS9
— ADL Southern California (@ADLSoCal) June 16, 2021
American Jewish Committee Los Angeles Regional Director Richard S. Hirschhaut similarly said in a statement to the Journal, “The reported attack upon an Orthodox Jewish boy gathered with his friends on Melrose Avenue is shocking and deeply disturbing. We hope this innocent child did not sustain any lasting injury. Melrose Avenue has increasingly become a gathering spot for vagrants, many in need of mental health services. But hate is hate and the virus of antisemitism knows no boundaries. Riding scooters with friends while being visibly Jewish should never invite such an outrageous attack.
“We applaud LAPD for its swift arrest of the perpetrator and await further information on this case. In the meantime, it is imperative that Angelenos of all backgrounds make their voices heard in condemning the epidemic of antisemitism.”
Israeli actress Noa Tishby tweeted, “Another antisemitic attack in Los Angeles. This time on a CHILD. THIS IS HAPPENING ALL THE TIME. Where is the outrage? Where are all the social justice keyboard warriors? Why is it that all we hear are crickets?”
Another antisemitic attack in Los Angeles. This time on a CHILD. THIS IS HAPPENING ALL THE TIME. Where is the outrage? Where are all the social justice keyboard warriors? Why is it that all we hear are crickets? https://t.co/Q9Dam7tCbq
— (((noa tishby))) (@noatishby) June 16, 2021
Los Angeles City Council Candidate Sam Yebri similarly wrote in a Facebook post, “Today, on Melrose Ave (a few blocks from my own LA City Council campaign event tonight), an Orthodox Jewish child was punched in the face … in the streets of Los Angeles … in broad daylight. Another unhinged person then walked by, defended the attacker, and threatened to ‘kill the kid’s entire family.’ This is not OK, cannot become the new normal in our city, and must end now.
“Thank you LAPD [Los Angeles Police Department] for your rapid response and to Eve Barlow for your reporting.”
Barlow also tweeted on June 16 that Instagram removed her post about the attack on Melrose because it violated their community guidelines. Barlow wrote that “many posts showcasing antisemitic attacks” have been deleted by Instagram. “What a terrifying time we live in.”
I posted this to @instagram last night and like many posts showcasing antisemitic attacks it was deleted for “violating community guidelines.”
What a terrifying time we live in. pic.twitter.com/nODgZruIIj
— Eve Barlow (@Eve_Barlow) June 16, 2021
Erielle Davidson, a senior policy analyst for the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA), tweeted, “Incidents showing antisemitic violence are deleted by Instagram, but Bella Hadid is allowed to post antisemitic propaganda with impunity on the platform.”
Incidents showing antisemitic violence are deleted by Instagram, but Bella Hadid is allowed to post antisemitic propaganda with impunity on the platform. https://t.co/s9Wckkcl1r
— Erielle Davidson (@politicalelle) June 16, 2021
Stephanie Otway, a spokesperson for Facebook, told the Journal that Barlow’s “post was removed in error and has now been restored, we apologize for the mistake.”
This post has been updated.
