By Tamar Adelstein for COLlive
I recently attended a Town Hall meeting in Crown Heights with Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and Mark Molinari, Commanding officer of the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force. I asked what efforts they were taking to monitor and stop hate-mongers like Al Sharpton and Ilhan Omar who have huge stores of funds, resources and unlimited access to media, from spreading their anti-Semitic incitement against the Jewish community.
I remarked that, Thank G-d, social media wasn’t around at the time of the 1991 Crown Heights Pogrom; Sharpton’s incitement could have caused even more loss of life, injuries and property damage; no doubt the numbers of rioters who rampaged through our neighborhood would have been even greater had cell phones been around.
Mr. Molinari responded by saying “hate speech is protected under the Constitution.” He also said his office only works after a crime has been committed and that it’s the FBI that investigates hate mongers. How reassuring.
In the meantime, Medgar Evers College plans to bestow an honorary doctorate on Sharpton this coming June 5th for his “unwavering commitment to racial, educational and socioeconomic equity” during commencement ceremonies to be held at the Barkley Center.
Indeed, Sharpton’s unwavering anti-Semitism and racism after the murder of Yankel Rosenbaum possibly led to the deaths of others as well. Sharpton’s commitment to “No Peace, No Justice” the week of August 19, 1991 also traumatized many of our community’s children whether they were hiding in fear and confusion at home or suddenly thrust into scenes of utter mayhem and danger upon arriving back from overnight camps just as the pogrom was gaining momentum.
In my humble opinion, the pogrom left a subtle damaging effect on the community that has yet to be recognized or resolved; at the time, any concerns about post-trauma were brushed aside (other than by a few self-serving agencies who profited from fundraising on the issue but that’s a story for another time).
On President Street between Utica and Schenectady there lived an elderly Holocaust survivor. During the pogrom, the mob broke into her building and ran through the hallways pounding on doors. This poor woman was all alone and panic-stricken. Terrified that they would soon break in, she sought to escape by jumping outside her window and instead fell tragically to her death. I have unfortunately been unable to find anyone who remembers her name.
My friend went to pick up her young son from the camp bus and was chased in full view of the police. She later miscarried. Judge Frederic Block who presided over the motion victims filed, callously told her to stop complaining since she already had a lot of children and could always have more!
In the weeks after the pogrom, Sharpton repeatedly came back to Crown Heights stirring up trouble and inciting Blacks to continue attacking Jews. With official and police permission, he was permitted to lead a march of wild marauders down my street just before Yom Kippur; it was very, very scary.
Following an incident in 1994 when a thief trying to break into a building behind 770 was caught and held until police arrived, Sharpton took to the airwaves and called on blacks to assemble with their weapons at a church on East New York and Utica and be ready to attack Jews over Shabbos. My group, “Crown Heights Women” filed a petition for an Order of Protection against Sharpton but was turned away. The NYPD 71st Precinct at the time refused to listen to our pleas for protection and instead fearfully set up their own barricades around the station. Only by the advent of a miraculous tri-state storm that knocked out powerlines, trees and most importantly transportation was another pogrom prevented.
Sharpton has never been called to account for his actions. Apologies would be farcical. His “confession” at the Reform Jewish convention that Coretta Scott King chided him after the Crown Heights pogrom falls far short of what she should have done then: Sever all ties with Sharpton, publicly denounce him and express her deepest regret that such evil had been perpetrated by a student of her husband, Dr. Martin Luther King, the great civil rights leader and true friend of the Jews.
So, what to do? Should write letters to Medgar Evers president Rudy Crew or sign a petition demanding the honor be withdrawn that will most likely go right into the wastebasket?
Should a delegation from the community ask for a meeting with Rudy Crew to voice our feelings and anger at the insensitivity shown us, the school’s neighbors, who were victims of Sharpton’s anti-Semitic violent hatred?
Should we rally together outside Medgar Evers in protest? Will the Media even bother to report on it? Should we call upon our local public officials to pressure Crew to withdraw the award?
Please share your ideas in the comments or you may contact me at [email protected]
Of course, Hashem can always send another blow-out storm preventing Sharpton from attending the commencement too. Let us daven that these evil beasts will soon be held accountable and punished for their crimes.
–Tamar Adelstein is a resident of Crown Heights and is the coordinator of the organization “Crown Heights Women for the Safety and Integrity of Israel”
Yes I recall the elderly holocaust survivor who out of fear thinking another holocaust was happening jumped to her death. There was another murder that police never presued. An Italian man with a beard was shot dead when he drove through crown heights for he was mistaken for a Jew. I went down to crown heights during second night of the pogrom to help my fellow yidden. Not one politician spoke up. Only senator Deamoto an Italian spoke up. The big mouthed secular jewish politicians and ADL cowards remained silent. To scream at President Trump they find their long tongues.… Read more »
Her name was Mrs. Estrin הי”ד. Her father was a chossid of the Friediger Rebbe and our current Rebbe.
Throw his picture, along with pictures of the leaders of Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, and pictures of other Jew haters in the Lag B’omer bonfire and ask Hashem to protect us, in the merit of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.
Can the phone number of who we should call at the college to complain re Sharpton. Also, are there any politicians to be called. This is something we all can easily do. Also, when, where and time is commencement. Maybe we can get people to show up with signs. Please post numbers in article for better coverage. Thank you for the important message.
Your comment makes one sad because it shows that you actually (with the best intentions) believe that calling medgar evers to complain will make them want to do right and that it will generate anything other than negativity. It must be accompanied by the solid presence of politicians of integrity from outside of crown heights and actual enactment of bills enforcing the law.
The internet is, by far, the most powerful tool for change the world has known. It educates people who otherwise are blocked from knowing. So, while you might be successful in annoying those who currently honor people like Sharpton with phone calls, letters and street protests, educating (in a convincing way – bi-ofen hamiskabel and chanoch linaar al pi darko) the blissfully ignorant and miled and misguided populace, as to the so-far unapologetic atrocities committed and caused, is a more lasting methodology of change in deep rooted (by misinformation) animosities.
The African American they have al sharpton, we don’t have a decent leadership, that’s the difference, unfortunately for us
1. Send this letter to pres. Trump.
2. Make a permenant sign or plaque to remember the victims
3. Commemerate the date of the murders ea year w an addition in Torah, tefilla, tzdaka etc.
I have ptsd from the riots. I have nightmares that still haunt me as an adult. Sharpton needs to take responsibility for the harm he caused.
Thanks to Yitzyg who wrote reminding me that Sharpton’s mantra was actually, No Justice, No Peace! As my activities now focus on Shleimus HaAretz (publicizing the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s directives for bringing true peace and security to Israel) and where tragically the Arabs give our fellow Jews No Peace and there is little, if any, True Justice for Jewish victims of Arab terror, I automatically reversed the order. On another note, it was brought to my attention that Governor Mario Cuomo’s investigative report about the pogrom records Shaprton first arriving in Crown Hts the next morning on August 20th. However, I… Read more »
We learn what to do about Anti Semitism from Sefer Beraishes when Yitzchok gives Yaacov the Brachos.Yitzchok benched Yaacov that he will be a master over his brother. Rashi explains that when Yaacovs descendents will learn Torah and do Mitzvos they will be a master over Aisev. However, when they forget and become lax then Aisav will rule over them. In general, Anti- Semitism is not the worst thing. Unfortunately, we have many Jews (including ourselves) that forget we are Jewish and weaken in our Jewish pride.When such a person gets yelled at, “Hey Jew” or other such names, it… Read more »
1. To daven. 2. try to appease and then 3. FIGHT. Note the story of Yaakov going to meet Esav and his army. I hope we’ve davened. But we’ve done way too much of the second item and zero of the third. And anybody can quote what the Torah says- that when you see someone coming to kill c”v, kill them first. It’s about time we started paying attention to the Torah’s directives.
Any act that harms a fellow Jew (or any person for that matter) is a terrible thing – and that is why the Shulchan Oruch instructs us in detail about the mitzvah of Pikuach Nefesh – protecting and saving lives. And, this is why the Rebbe spoke so forcefully and tirelessly for decades about Pikuach Nefesh, protecting Jews, particularly in Eretz Yisroel – even more than on the inyan of Moshiach (as heard from Rabbi Butman) So yes, increasing our bond with Torah and Mitzvos, b’simcha – with inner and outer joy!, as well as ensuring al pi Halacha no… Read more »
There was someone else who disapeared during the riots and was never found. He was an older shy man who ate every shabbos by my friends family. The family reported him missing to the police who did nothing and he was never found.
I never forgot those days! Wondered why the march didnt happen on shabbos, Hashem saved us.
Did his comment to the mother who miscarried (and has a serious criminal charge against the perpetrators) really go unpublicized? Amazing how Crown Heights keeps the crimes against the law abiding carefully under cover. I wonder why?
Of the 91 victims, including the estate of Yankel Rosenbaum, who filed the class action law suit, this woman was one of the few who was even given a chance to testify. In the face of such outrageous remarks (and Judge Block was just one among many who showed gross insensitivity to our community) it’s often hard to find the words to effectively respond. But another aspect of the class action law suit was the settlement awarded to the 91 claimants who filed, including the estate of Yankel Rosenbaum – a mere 1.1 Million dollars total. The day after the… Read more »
I am making a copy of Tamar Adelstein’s article and sending it to Rudy Crew, President of Medgar Evers College. Address: Office of the Secretary, 205 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017.
All that is necessary for evil to succeed is when good men remain silent.
There was also a non-Jewish man who looked Jewish who was killed.
In this one article, you have said and done much more than so many others have ever done!!
Great article and nicely written. It’s funny how you mention that the authorities allowed this to happen and then ask to call Medger Evers or authorities… This does nothing (as history has shown) אם אין אני לי מי לי We gotta stand up for ourselves because ain’t no one gonna do it for us. הידים ידי עשו, it’s true that we should spread light but at the same time, we must do our part to protect ourselves. I think we need people to watch and pounce on attackers and beat em to a pulp b4 the cops come. I think… Read more »
Put out pamphlets called “The truth about Al Sharpton” and distribute it on the CUNY campus.They can’t stop you You have freedom of speech or does freedom of speech only apply to Jew haters?
Spot on!
It’s well known that Jews will sacrifice afew for political correctness.That is why they will not press the “Hate Crime” on other minorities except if they are White.