By COLlive reporter
Enough is enough!
A crowd of elected officials, community activists and local residents turned out for a public denouncement of the recent violent attacks against Jews in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights neighborhood.
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams called for the press conference on Monday at Rutland Road near Schenectady Avenue, the site of the most recent attack against a Chassidic Jew this past Shabbos.
The 50-year-old man walking home from shul when he was violently assaulted by a man who allegedly beat and strangled him, while screaming anti-Semitic threats at him in response to his friendly “hello.”
The violent attack, which occurred on Shabbos, prompted the New York Police Department to add security to the area, as reported on COLlive.com.
This is the second week in a row that a hate crime occurred in Crown Heights. Last weekend, a 42-year-old Jewish man visiting Crown Heights was attacked on Eastern Parkway.
Adams, flanked by both Jews and non Jews, said the violent attack should have made anyone who saw the video feel “disgusted.” “A ‘hello’ should not turn into a hellish attack,” Adams declared.
“The illegal displacement of residents is not a Jewish thing, it is a fight that we are unified in,” Borough President Adams said. “Those who believe that you can attack a person because of their religious beliefs, we have a zero tolerance for that.”
Adams said that people of all nationalities and faiths living side by side in Brooklyn are an example to “the entire world on how to embrace diversity.”
“One story like this is too many,” said Devorah Halberstam, a liaison for NYPD 71st Precinct and a local resident. “On behalf of my entire community, elected officials, and the 71st precinct, we will never, ever tolerate anything of this kind, to anyone in our community.”
During the press conference, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) announced that it is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the attackers.
Chanina Sperlin, inter-Governmental liaison for the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council, announced that a Los Angeles based philanthropist had offered a $50,000 reward for the capture of the attacker.
“It is so important that we are here today, on this street corner, if we weren’t here united, we would be giving a pass for these types of horrific incidents to keep happening in our community, our city, and our state,” said NYC Council Member Laurie Cumbo.
“We will not tolerate brutal attacks against our own brothers and sisters,” Cumbo said, and added that she was moved recently while visiting local Wingate Park in Crown Heights. “I saw the most beautiful thing: Children of all races and nationalities playing together as one people.”
“This is a community of inclusiveness, and we fight every day to take measures that we can live together as one people,” Cumbo continued. “If you have an issue with diversity, this is not the community for you.”
NY Assemblywoman Diana Richardson, who was not present, said in a statement: “There is no room for hatred in our community, and I condemn this deplorable act. As a decedent of immigrants, I am disheartened by this senseless action, which in no way represents what we stand for. ”
Video:
Dear Commentators:
What do you imagine others residing out of CH, and are not of the Lubavich Community/Family, think of us when reading the nasty comments.
All I ask is that you THINK before you write.
Like it or not, you compliment, or ח״ו
bring בושות (shame) to us, and to our Rebbe.
To the writers of the very B’Kovedik comments.
You cry fowl that you work, and have no time to attend the News Conference.
But to write and rewrite your pathetic comments, you have all the time.
This gathering was a Kiddush Hashem, and has brought to the forefront our plight.
This was covered on all Major News Outlets, and hopefully it will bring this Chaya Roeh to justice.
I was very proud of the attendees, men, women, and children.
“ONE PICTURE, IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS”
These pictures, are worth millions of words.
Thank you Askonim for this.
A few great photo ops. Ya that’ll do for now.
Unless the whole neighborhood shows up this is a pure joke. The problem is that there is too much tolerance. We are not even strong enough to stand up to attackers in this neighborhood. My respect goes out to the other Yiddishe communities who truly fight for Yidden and would never let these things happen.
The most telling thing was that Diana Richardson was a no show. She has been hiding from the media, and think a sorry statement is all that is needed.
She was trying to avoid media scrutiny, but it is her hate speech at the community Board that has help fuel this anti- Jewish behavior.
She was home in the District hiding from this serious event.
Never will i vote for her again.
While I appreciate that the elected officials, Jewish and non-Jewish, are against hate crimes, I was looking for more than just talk of peace and love. I was surprised no politicians broke out in song. Where is the commitment to spend dollars from their capital budgets (elected officials have capital and discretionary budgets) on more surveillance cameras in isolated areas? Where is the commitment to have more cops walking the streets and on street corners ? ( I heard there are less cops now in the precinct than before 1992)? Last year at a CB#9 board meeting, City Council members… Read more »
Diane Richardson should have made an extra effort to be there, especially if she didn’t make the provocative remark about the ‘Jews gentrifying the neighborhood ‘ that she was reported to have said and which she denied making. We Jews don’t bite and it would have been an appropriate opportunity to show that she really isn’t more protective of any one group in her district over another.
so we can come
ty to all who came
The assault that took place this past Shabbat was probably the most brutal assault to take place in our community in the past 10 years. A press conference was held today and a nice amount of community members showed up, specifically younger members, which is a good sign. What wasn’t a good sign was how many people, who do nothing for our community, got to parade themselves in front of the cameras and spew multicultural crap. I want to say very clearly: when an African American or a member of the LGBT or Muslim community is attacked nobody mixes in… Read more »
This is a quote from the article:
NY Assemblywoman Diana Richardson, who was not present, said in a statement: “There is no room for hatred in our community, and I condemn this deplorable act. As a decedent of immigrants, I am disheartened by this senseless action, which in no way represents what we stand for. ”
Is she a “descendant” or is she “deceased?”
About a month ago I had a terribly traumatic incident outside a nail salon in CH . I called 911 after being verbally threatened and harassed in broad daylight . I was 9 months pregnant and a man with a very strong resemblance to this assailant ( same hat, beard , build , ) began shouting death threats and anti – Semitic comments . Thank G-D I wasn’t physically attacked, ( maybe because other people were around?) , but he definitely looked murderous and his eyes were filled with haters and rage . I called the police because I was… Read more »
I left work to come to the Press Conference condemning the anti-Semitic attack that took place on Shabbos almost killing one of us. YES, ALMOST KILLING a yungerman in our community. He would have been dead had it not been for 2 passersby that interceded. No one wants to hear this but this is the case. Sadly, there was a very small turnout. What is wrong with us? Why didn’t 770 empty out and everyone come to show support? Why didn’t our Rabbonim send out a message of the importance to attend? Last week when someone arranged a meeting with… Read more »
“If you want to harm Jews, think twice! We will organize a press conference!”
I feel safer already.
Thank you to all the elected officials who came to show
Support for our community. We are grateful.
These ppl who attacked the old man and so on are cowards they’d never pick on a guy who that looks young and healthy! Time to pull out the bats . And hit the gym! And start hitting some home runs
Several people, myself included, actually took off work. If the safety and unity of your community is important to you, you can walk the extra mile. And for the record, I’m not taking about people who work locally.
Many of you keyboards enthusiasts who did not attend because you were at work would not attend later either. There are plenty excuses to be found.
If you could not make it at least do not brag about it on social media.
The importance of having a public showing of City officials should not be underestimated. If you want elected officials to come, Borough president, assemblyman and women, it has to be during working hours. Yes, the community activists who is standing right up in the front for the photo-ops have to work hard and use connections to get City elected officials to come show support, and not just make statements from the office. Thank you for representing us.
Some of us work for a living
This is not a “new” issue. This has been going on for over half a century. Stop talking and start doing!
BS”D It not the CC fault, NYC politicians only work til 5 so
Why didn’t they record/post some speeches?
How true
It’s because we have not had a change in the vaad hakahol in 10 years
Same crowns same people same faces
Let some young guys run and ker a velt
Make a meeting at this hour and people are working. The same idiot’s are at all these meetings. CH is a beautiful community run by people who care more for their honor than the safety of the people.
Glad the laughing and smiling was followed by some serious moments. An hour or so later and all of the people who couldn’t come because they were working somewhere else would have been able to make it.
Hak-a-chainik incoporated