A 51-year-old Orthodox Jewish man in Brooklyn reportedly was assaulted and subjected to anti-Semitic slurs as he was walking home on July 12.
The Algemeiner reported that three males, believed to be between the ages of 18 and 20, drove next to the Jewish man and started hurling anti-Semitic epithets at him. The perpetrators proceeded to exit the vehicle and repeatedly punched the victim. The victim later was treated for a broken finger and needed stitches on his face.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) is investigating the matter as a hate crime.
Jewish groups condemned the alleged assault.
“We are alarmed and deeply disturbed that another violent anti-Semitic incident has occurred in Brooklyn,” Anti-Defamation League (ADL) New York/New Jersey Interim Regional Director Etzion Neuer said in a statement. “This is horrific, and the hate must stop. The fact that this alleged attack took place during the Sabbath makes it even more egregious.”
ADL New York/New Jersey is offering a $10,000 reward for information that would lead to the arrest of the perpetrators.
“We will continue to work together with all New Yorkers to stop anti-Semitic violence and hope that this reward facilitates the swift apprehension of those responsible for this attack,” Neuer added. “We thank the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force for investigating.”
The Simon Wiesenthal Center tweeted, “Jewish community suffered brutal attacks on streets of #NYC even before [$]1 billion removed from #NYPD. Mr. Mayor [Bill de Blasio]…: How will you protect all New Yorkers now?”
Jewish community suffered brutal attacks on streets of #NYC even before 1billion removed from #NYPD. Mr Mayor @NYCMayor: How will you protect all New Yorkers now? https://t.co/SMNqwdF2hi
— SimonWiesenthalCntr (@simonwiesenthal) July 13, 2020
The tweet was referencing the fact that the New York City Council voted on June 30 to cut $1 billion from the NYPD.
Former New York Democratic Assemblyman Dov Hikind, who also heads the Americans Against Anti-Semitism watchdog, tweeted, “Violent anti-Semites are picking up right where they left off before COVID. Not expecting much protection or action from our ‘leadership.’ So every Jew must know how to defend themselves, because we’re on our own!”
It’s baaaaaack! Violent antisemites are picking up right where they left off before COVID.
Not expecting much protection or action from our “leadership.”
So every Jew must know how to defend themselves, because we’re on our own!https://t.co/nihL7RVMQS
— Dov Hikind (@HikindDov) July 13, 2020
The Stop Anti-Semitism.org watchdog tweeted, “#JewishPrivilege means getting beat up on your way home from a #shabbat lunch …” The “#JewishPrivilege” is a reference to a hashtag that was trending on July 12 as various Jewish Twitter users used the hashtag, which was first started by anti-Semitic accounts, to relay their past experiences of anti-Semitism.
#JewishPrivilege means getting beat up on your way home from a #shabbat lunch … https://t.co/m93YHD7j6r pic.twitter.com/OmxUmJULwu
— StopAntisemitism.org (@StopAntisemites) July 13, 2020
In January, the NYPD released data showing there was a 24% increase in anti-Semitic hate crimes in New York City from 2018 to 2019.
