CAIR-NY Denounces Attacks on Orthodox Jewish Men in Williamsburg, Welcomes Hate Crime Investigations
Video still courtesy of Williamsburg News
(NEW YORK, NY, 8/22/2022)—The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) today condemned two reported attacks on Jewish men this past weekend in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn.
According to reports, the first incident occurred at approximately 12 a.m. on Sunday. Two males were allegedly seen on surveillance video chasing a man dressed in traditional Orthodox Jewish attire. During the chase, the victim fell, then one of the suspects allegedly snatched his hat from the ground and fled.
The second incident reportedly occurred on Sunday at around 6 a.m., when the alleged assailant and his two companions approached a 66-year-old Jewish man, also dressed in Orthodox attire, as he was walking to the synagogue. The alleged assailant proceeded to spray the man with a fire extinguisher, then reportedly threw the extinguisher at him, narrowly missing him. He then allegedly punched him in the nose, causing him to bleed. Police are investigating both incidents as possible hate crimes.
SEE:
Hate Crime Spree in Williamsburg; Orthodox Man Sprayed With Fire Extinguisher
Man sprayed with fire extinguisher, punched in face in apparent hate crime in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Afaf Nasher, Executive Director of CAIR-NY, said in a statement:
“We denounce these egregious assaults on the Jewish community and stand in solidarity with our Jewish brothers and sisters against the growing wave of anti-Jewish hatred consuming our nation. Too many of our fellow New Yorkers are being harassed and attacked for expressing their constitutional right to freedom of religion. We must devote more resources to protecting everyone’s right to practice their faith in safety. We urge all victims to report bias incidents to police so that our elected officials can understand the true extent of hate being perpetrated against their constituents.”
She added that CAIR-NY and the American Muslim community stand in solidarity with all those challenging racial supremacy, religious bigotry, xenophobia, and all other forms of hatred.
CAIR-NY has condemned several other disturbing hate incidents in recent weeks:
SEE:
CAIR-NY Welcomes Arrest, Hate Crime Charges for Alleged Perpetrator of Assault Targeting White Woman
CAIR-NY Condemns Anti-Jewish Flyers Found Outside Nassau County Homes
CAIR-NY Denounces Racist Subway Attack on Woman in Brooklyn
CAIR-NY Denounces Hateful, Anti-Asian Voice Message Targeting New York Senator John Liu
CAIR-NY's mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR-NY es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: Afaf Nasher, Esq., CAIR-NY Executive Director, 917-669-4006, anasher@cair.com; Ahmed Mohamed, CAIR-NY Legal Director, 646-481-2103, ahmedmohamed@cair.com