A group of Jews walking through Central Park in New York City were targeted with eggs on the evening of June 12.
A Jewish woman told I Love the Upper West Side blog that she was walking with a group of friends—who were all in Shabbat garb, including kippahs—when people in a car started following them and threw eggs at them. The woman was hit in the head and went to the hospital for concussion symptoms.
“There were so many people around us, and they only targeted us,” the woman told the blog. “A doorman who saw what happened said that they were behind us and sought us out.” She added: “I understand how other people might not think that this could have been a hate crime, but in my head it’s just so beyond obvious and I feel like so many other people just don’t get it.”
The woman also said that she’s speaking out because there are plenty of antisemitic incidents that are not reported. “This time it was an egg, but if we don’t stop these people, what’s going to be next? I don’t want to put someone else in danger. I feel like this was just simply a stepping stone to a bigger potential crime.”
A spokesperson from the New York Police Department (NYPD) told the Journal that according to the woman, who is 26, they were attacked with eggs by two unknown males; the woman also declined to receive medical attention at the scene of the incident. The case has been referred to the NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force; however the spokesperson noted that non-Jews had eggs thrown at them as well.
Jewish groups denounced the reported incident.
“We are looking into this terrible incident and reaching out to law enforcement to find out more,” Anti-Defamation League New York / New Jersey tweeted.
We are looking into this terrible incident and reaching out to law enforcement to find out more. https://t.co/xaPdb5oVC9
— ADL New York / New Jersey (@ADL_NYNJ) June 17, 2021
“THIS MUST STOP! #EndJewHatred” the grassroots organization End Jew Hatred tweeted.
One of the groups who was hit in the head with an egg suffers a concussion
THIS MUST STOP! #EndJewHatred https://t.co/V2Lhr2C3Fq
— End Jew Hatred (@EndJewHatred) June 17, 2021
Ellie Cohanim, the former Deputy Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, also tweeted, “I hate the fact that I even need to post this—but if you or someone you know is a victim of a hate-crime, please do alert law enforcement, take the ambulance and do what is required so that perpetrators will be arrested, & so we have accurate statistics.”
I hate the fact that I even need to post this—but if you or someone you know is a victim of a hate-crime, please do alert law enforcement, take the ambulance and do what is required so that perpetrators will be arrested, & so we have accurate statistics. https://t.co/4qYsHWmNHW
— Ellie Cohanim (@EllieCohanim) June 16, 2021
