New York mayor condemns attacks on Jews as near-daily assaults continue

New York City Mayor Eric Adams condemned attacks on Jews as near-daily assaults on community members continued, drawing calls for more US government action.

“These outrageous attacks on our Jewish community won’t be tolerated, not in our city,” Adams said in response to a video showing a woman striking a Jewish man.

The video posted by Boro Park Shomrim, a neighborhood watch group, showed the woman pursuing an ultra-Orthodox man down a city sidewalk, screaming at him.

She then swatted off his kippah and shtreimel, a traditional hat worn by Haredi men on Shabbat and holidays.

Boro Park Shomrim said the woman had been arrested.

“We will keep our streets safe,” Adams said, thanking police for “their quick response to these acts of antisemitic hatred.”

New York State Governor Kathy Hochul said, “Acts of antisemitism are abhorrent and unacceptable.”

“Hate crimes will not be tolerated in New York, and we’ve strengthened our laws to further hold perpetrators accountable,” Hochul said.

Jews are consistently the group most targeted in hate crimes in New York City on an annual basis, in per capita and absolute terms, with the Anti-Defamation League reporting a record-high number of incidents last year.

The NYPD has confirmed 149 anti-Jewish hate crimes between the start of the year and June 28, representing an incident every 29 hours on average. The attacks range from violent assaults to racial slurs and property damage, and many more likely go unreported.

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