By COLlive reporter
The NYPD Hate Crime Task Force has launched an investigation into an assault of a Jewish man in Times Square on Thursday, one of several videos on social media this week showing Jews being attacked in New York City.
Police confirmed that they’re investigating an incident caught on video that shows a group of people surrounding and violently punching, kicking, and beating an older man, attacked by a gang of pro-Palestinians for wearing a Yarmulke as he attempted to cross a street.
No arrests have been made in the incident and the NYPD urges the public to come forward with information.
Other videos on social media showed violent confrontations in the nearby Diamond District between people in cars carrying Palestinian flags and passers-by on the street as well as Palestinian protesters shouting, spitting at, and throwing a bottle at Jewish diners at a Kosher restaurant.
“What happened yesterday in the streets of NYC attacking a Jew by a group of Palestinians is clearly a hate crime,” said Devorah Halberstam, Chair of the NYPD Hate Crime Review Panel, of the incident in Times Square. “NYPD must investigate those involved and arrest them. There has to be zero tolerance for hate in this city.”
“Anti-semitism has NO place in our city,” tweeted Mayor Bill De Blasio about the attack. “There’s no excuse for violence against someone because of who they are. None. We will bring the perpetrators of this vicious act of hate to justice.”
Pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian demonstrations in midtown Manhattan on Thursday led to some tense confrontations, with police saying at least two dozens arrests had been made.
In many cities across the US, from New York and California to Illinois and Utah, the recent conflict between Israel and Gaza has generated a disturbing backlash against American Jews – who have found themselves the targets of death threats, hate speech and violent physical attacks.
Violent incidents in Los Angeles against Jews at a restaurant and in a parking lot are being investigated by the police as well.
“Stop telling me this is about Israel and Gaza,” a New Yorker who was confronted by a pro-Palestinian mob on his way to synagogue this week told FOX News. “My people are being targeted across the United States in broad daylight. This is textbook anti-Semitism, and we will continue to live in danger until the public starts to recognize it for what it is.”
Just witnessed a beat down in Times Square. #NYC #TimesSquare #Palestine #WTF #NewYorkCity pic.twitter.com/KSR5GQRvtw
— Rob Bertrand (@Robertrand77) May 20, 2021
And yet another video has emerged of Palestinians threatening, intimidating and spitting on Jews. Open season on Jews in NY & the silence of our leaders is beyond comprehension. This isn’t free speech, this is open incitement & violence against Jews. People are terrified. https://t.co/0Ns21cmNUu
— Chaskel Bennett (@ChaskelBennett) May 21, 2021
The Hate Crime Task Force is investigating a gang assault of a Jewish man in Times Square that happened this evening. If you have any information on any of the participants, DM us or call @NYPDTips 1-800-577-TIPS. We will post more information as it becomes available. pic.twitter.com/dV7r4v2pV5
— NYPD Hate Crimes (@NYPDHateCrimes) May 21, 2021
Anti-semitism has NO place in our city.
There’s no excuse for violence against someone because of who they are. None. We will bring the perpetrators of this vicious act of hate to justice.
If you have information about this incident, please contact @NYPDHateCrimes IMMEDIATELY. https://t.co/vnm1GBlu1q
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) May 21, 2021
THERE ARE NOT HUMAN BEINGS, HOW CAN ISRAEL STOP NOW THEY MUST FINISH KILLING ALL THEIR LEADERS!!1
“Maybe the Jews should not have been wearing their kippas! we need to be sensitive to our “Palatinian neighbors” and most definitely not have a Israeli flag! Haven’t we learned?? We need to stay low and try to not trigger them” . Did “Ker A Velt” put out this statement??
That’s not the way it works, so we should have assimilated during the holocaust so hilter ym”sh wouldn’t kill us??? Were not going to bow to some racist people because they hate our religion for no reason sorry man that’s not the way it workrs
This was an attempt at sarcasm for our “liberal Jewish brothers”
Mordechai didn’t bow down to Haman and neither will we
you sicken me! of course we should keep the flag we are proud jews we wear are kippas where ever we go!!!
We need to stick together and start hitting back. Stop cowering in fear and hit back. No one is coming to your rescue the police dont care anymore. When someone hits you you MUST HIT THEM BACK
Time to bring back the JDL- we must at the very least make these cowards second guess attacking a Jew. By nature we prefer to just focus on our lives and move on, however, this is a big turning point in American Jewry. The tide is changing in progressive cities. Chuck Schumer would usually lead a rally in support of Israel, now he is silent because he is scared the progressive wing will get rid of him. The typical moderate demarcate are being pushed out. NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT. The media is not covering these attacks because it… Read more »
Heres your friends liberal jews
Not sure your advice to hit back is sound…they won’t be prosecuted but you will be! That’s America for ya!
Then carried by 6.
Fighting back is the ONLY language they understand. We keep trying to prove to them how good we are, when we should be proving how STRONG we are.
I took the video of the people at a restaurant as well as other videos at the protest.
Thankfully the pro-Palestine group didn’t figure out that I’m a frum Jew, ‘cuz that wouldn’t have ended well for me.
My Twitter handle is @17AmericanTruth.
For showing that these pro-Palestinians are just a bunch of real Nazis.
Why is there no massive support rally for israel in manhatten
Sunday at 11:00 at World Trade Center. Please come out in big numbers.
Good for them! It’s a big spread in today’s news showing attacks state by state though I’m sure it doesn’t cover all. And from the thousands of comments to the article it looks like we have MAJOR support.
JDL