By COLlive reporter
Anti-Israel protesters who gathered in front of 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights on Thursday evening enraged local residents, who say the police stood by and did nothing as they disturbed the peace and blocked residents from attending the Shul or heading to shop or home.
The demonstration gathered at the Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters just before 9:30 PM as protesters rallied against an appearance by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who was visiting the neighborhood. He attended a Siyum HaRambam event in the 770 Shul in the evening, attended by hundreds of Jewish men.
“What happened tonight in Crown Heights was outrageous and deeply disturbing,” Rabbi Yaacov Behrman, community activist and Director of the Jewish Future Alliance, wrote on X. “A group of antisemitic protesters gathered at the intersection of Eastern Parkway and Kingston Avenue—the very heart of this heavily populated Jewish neighborhood—spewing hateful, inflammatory rhetoric at innocent passersby, myself included.”
The protesters stood at the busiest intersection of the Jewish community in Crown Heights, and shouted antisemitic slogans like “We don’t want Zionists here,” and genocidal chants such as “We don’t want two states, we want all of it,” and “Resistance is justified.”
“How dare you come into my neighborhood—where I’ve lived for over 40 years—and tell me I don’t belong? I absolutely belong here. My family, my neighbors, and my community belong here,” Behrman wrote.
“Your hatred and your slogans weren’t directed at a political figure—someone most people in the community didn’t even know was here—but at all Jews: those going to synagogue, shopping in the area, passing by, or simply out for an evening walk.
“Let’s be clear: this was not about free speech or peaceful demonstration. This was an antisemitic, Hamas-supporting rally. It was meant to intimidate, to provoke, and to spread fear.
Your hatred has no place here. Not in Crown Heights. Not anywhere.”
One resident angrily described being unable to cross the street near his home, and said an officer grabbed him and pushed him aside, even though he was only walking around in his own neighborhood.
VIDEO:
Another resident described witnessing a protester picking up a bike from the sidewalk on Eastern Parkway and violently throwing it at Jewish passersby. The witness told COLlive that the unprovoked act of violence frightened him, and he called 911 to report the incident.
He said he witnessed the NYPD officers standing by as the protesters acted in a violent manner and did nothing to stop them. When one Jewish bystander grabbed at one of the protesters’ signs, however, 4 or 5 cops immediately chased him down and arrested him.
U.S. Congresswoman Elise Stefanik expressed outrage about the violence in Crown Heights, stressing that “Jewish Americans must never feel unsafe in their own communities. There is no place in our country for hate-fueled violence against the Jewish people.”
Stefanik called for an immediate federal investigation into these dangerous organizations and their funding networks.
“The heinous violence last night outside the Chabad-Lubavitch world headquarters in Brooklyn is horrifying and unacceptable. Pro-terrorist antisemitic anarchists violently targeted one of the holiest Jewish sites in America, shouting vile antisemitic death chants and attacking Jews as they gathered in peace.
“This wasn’t a protest—it was a violent attack. Six arrests were made, including criminals charged with assault and harassment. One violent radical even stormed inside during an address by Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, further escalating tensions. This vicious destructive antisemitism is part of a disturbing and growing trend across our country. I have been warning about these extremist, anti-American groups for years—they have no morals, no respect for civil discourse, and they resort to dangerous violence when confronted with truth,” she said.
What happened tonight in Crown Heights was outrageous and deeply disturbing. A group of antisemitic protesters gathered at the intersection of Eastern Parkway and Kingston Avenue—the very heart of this heavily populated Jewish neighborhood—spewing hateful, inflammatory rhetoric… pic.twitter.com/9zFD2ZwnlJ
— Yaacov Behrman (@ChabadLubavitch) April 25, 2025
VIDEO: Ben Gvir addresses crowd in 770
Why is the chief of community affairs smiling in 770 when his officers are outside not letting residents in their own community cross the street they live on… Completely wrong… You can ask people for proof of residence and let them cross…
You wanna know why? Because we are a community of photo ops. We care more about what looks good than what is good. A good picture is worth more than a thousand lives made better.Cover up the dirt by sweeping it under the carpet at the vaad hakohol. You get the drift…
why ask for proof of residency? anyone can expect to be able to walk down the streets of a neighborhood peacefully without getting stopped or attacked, even if I don’t live there
The NYPD should have arrested every demonstrator that was wearing a mask and it would have been very peaceful evening
Ever heard of the first amendment?
the protest was at the same place that a few days ago “leaders” condemned a fellow yid for defending against a threat.
What a zoo.
Moshiach is not yet here. This episode is proof that he is almost here.
Were the police properly notified ahead time this event would take place and were proper arrangements made to handle the protesters. We can’t expect bringing Ben Gvir here without there being a demonstration. Police should of been prepared to handle this situation in a peaceful fashion. The fact is free speech is a allowed in this country and while it’s understandable to allow Gvir here to talk, it’s also understandable that there would be a backlash. This whole mess could of easily been avoided had proper plans been made.
When a bunch of scumb bags come out to put up a show , with their objective to 1) make you upset, angry harassment etc. etc. etc . How do you respond….. if you consider yourself as a chassid of the rebbe you must think what does the rebbe etccbbb expect from you, what take responsibility…. Think truth. You just want to see what is going on, that’s precisely what they want, and you have the choice a) fall into their narrative and going over and waste your precious time staring at them, and saying to them , you are… Read more »
thank you for coming to 770 wow amazing