Omari Shakur, a city councilman-at-large in Newburgh, NY, was censured during an October 25 city council for shouting “Jewish motherf—ers” at a construction site.
The Times Herald-Record reported that Shakur was visiting the site to voice concerns over safety protocols, as the workers were tearing a building down yet not wearing masks or gloves and didn’t seal off the area. The landlord told Shakur to leave, prompting Shakur to yell, “You and these Jewish motherf—ers think you can come in here and take over our community. F— all y’all!”
The censure vote was unanimous; even Shakur voted to censure himself. He apologized multiple times during the meeting. “When those words came out of my mouth, I regretted them,” he said. “As a child and an activist of the ‘60s and ‘70s, the Jewish community has been allied with the Black community for the longest.”
Shakur also said that his remarks came from a place of frustration. “There was a safety issue in my community where a kid could have been hurt. Where is the compassion for that family?” he said, per the Mid Hudson News. “Where is the compassion for my community that is going through all of this after going through a pandemic, going through some of the situations that they are going through?”
The various city councilmembers all told Shakur that while his frustration was valid, it does not excuse his remarks. “This is strictly about the antisemitic remarks,” City Councilwoman Karen Mejia said. “This is a community that does not tolerate that.”
Anti-Defamation League New York / New Jersey tweeted, “This councilman’s use of #antisemitic tropes and apparent bias against the Jewish community are unacceptable. We commend the Newburgh City Council’s actions in censuring him.”
This councilman’s use of #antisemitic tropes and apparent bias against the Jewish community are unacceptable. We commend the Newburgh City Council’s actions in censuring him.https://t.co/ZoKDg9PEud
— ADL New York / New Jersey (@ADL_NYNJ) October 27, 2021
But Jewish Federation of Orange County Executive Director Wendy Cedar told Mid Hudson News that the city council needed to do more. “If he was concerned about the building codes or permits, whatever he might have been frustrated about, then he could have focused on that and not brought it down to cursing at someone for their religious or cultural background.”
Stop Antisemitism tweeted, “Was [Shakur] removed? Nope. He was censured Had a vile comment like this been made about ANY OTHER MINORITY, he would have lost his seat in .25 seconds!”
Hudson Valley NY Councilman Omari Shakur filmed screaming "you and these Jewish motherf*ckers, Jewish motherf*ckers, f*ck all ya'll"
Was he removed? Nope
He was censuredHad a vile comment like this been made about ANY OTHER MINORITY, he would have lost his seat in .25 seconds! pic.twitter.com/i8HCRfX5mg
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) October 28, 2021
The watchdog noted in a subsequent tweet that Shakur was also censured in August for cursing at a police officer. “Shameful someone with this much hatred and disrespect is sitting in a town leadership position,” Stop Antisemitism wrote.
In August 2021 Shakur was arrested for telling an officer "f*ck you, arrest me" after he was pulled over for running a red light.
Shameful someone with this much hatred and disrespect is sitting in a town leadership position.https://t.co/JPwXET3WAq
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) October 28, 2021
