NY Officials Slam Assault by Teen at Press Conference in Crown Heights (Part 1)

Prominent elected officials gathered on the intersection of Empire Blvd. and Albany Avenue in Crown Heights to condemn the violent attack on Monday on an innocent Jewish man.

As reported on COLlive.com, a Jewish man crossing the street was suddenly assaulted by an 18-year-old black teen who was released from police custody a short while earlier for shoplifting.

The man was struck with a stick by the assailant on his back and shoulder while trying to flee into Quality Care Dry Cleaners, owned by Meir Shlomo Junik, on the corner. A bystander was injured in the attack as well. The assailant was apprehended.

“Our City has sadly seen a number of high profile hate crimes over the last few days, including one yesterday in Crown Heights,” New York City Council Majority Leader Laurie Cumbo, who represents the neighborhood, said.

“Hate and violence are inexcusable and do not represent who we are as a community,” she stated. “We must rise above this and stand together in the face of such crimes. It is more important than ever for us to uplift and strengthen our values of diversity, inclusion, safety, and unity.”

Cumbo said that together as a community we came to celebrate a safe West Indian day parade – Jouvert, a beautiful Sukkos celebration, and just last week COLlive’s tenth anniversary party/COLlive Day.

Public Advocate Tish James, who is the Democratic nominee for New York State Attorney General, called the attack “a disgusting act of anti-Semitism” and stated that “we stand together to denounce this hate and show that we will never tolerate any violence or hate in New York City.”

Evan Bernstein, Regional Director of the ADL organization in New York, said: “Antisemitic assaults like yesterday in Crown Heights can’t become the new normal in Brooklyn. The community must continue efforts to build bridges. Thank you, NYPD for your work”

Participating in the press conference were New York State Assembly member Diana Richardson, State Senator Jessee Hamilton, Rabbi Eli Cohen of the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council, Pinny Hikind representing NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer.

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