Posted on 05/09/19
| News Source: Vosizneias.com
Williamsburg, NY - One day after reports surfaced of an attack against an obviously Chasidic man, the NYPD has released footage of suspects wanted in two separate anti-Semitic incidents that took place in Williamsburg, hoping that the public will help them identify the perpetrators.
As previously reported on VIN News (http://bit.ly/2V7TOGV), a 39 year old Chasidic man was attacked on May 7th at the corner of Rodney and Marcy avenues, prompting community leaders and elected officials to call the NYPD on the carpet for its response to the recent spate of anti-Semitic attacks in Williamsburg.
Just three days earlier, a 42 year old Chasidic man was assaulted at 1:15 in the morning in the area of Broadway and Lynch Street by a group of four men making anti-Semitic remarks. The victim suffered bruising and swelling to his face. All four attackers appeared to be in their early 20s and they fled on foot, heading east on Broadway. Three Hispanic suspects were dressed in black hoodies, pants and shoes at the time of the attack, while the fourth, an African-American man, was wearing a grey Champion hoodie, sweatpants, white sneakers and a black do-rag when the incident occurred.
Both incidents are being investigated by the NYPD Hate Crime Task Force.
Hoping to put an end to the religiously-motivated assaults, the NYPD will be meeting with community leaders and elected officials to come up with both long and short term solutions to the violence that has left local residents shaken. Rabbi David Niederman, executive director of The United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg, said that he hopes that with proper planning and the allocation of resources, a sense of safety can be restored in Williamsburg.
“This meeting is going to send out the message that the mayor and the police department will not tolerate these kind of attacks,” Rabbi Niederman told VIN News.
Rabbi Niederman also noted that video cameras dotting the streets of Williamsburg, both those installed by private residents and those put in place through funding allocated by elected officials, have been making a big difference.
Speaking out to would-be offenders Rabbi Niederman warned, “There are cameras all over the place. If you want to commit a crime don’t do it here because you will be caught.”
Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Crime Stoppers Hotline by phone at 800-577-TIPS, by text at 247637 (CRIMES) and then entering TIP577 or online at www.NYPDCrimeStoppers.com.