Daijiworld Media Network - New York
New York, Apr 30: A disturbing incident in Brooklyn has sparked outrage across New York City after a local woman was harassed and threatened by a mob of men, reportedly Orthodox Jewish counter-protesters, during demonstrations tied to the visit of Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.
The attack occurred last Thursday in Crown Heights, outside the Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters, where pro-Palestinian activists had assembled in protest of Ben Gvir’s US tour. The protest reportedly ended before the woman arrived, but a crowd of Orthodox Jewish men remained in the area.
Videos circulated online show the woman, her face partially covered with a blue and white scarf, being surrounded, harassed, and threatened. The group can be heard chanting slurs, making threats including threats of sexual violence and, at one point, throwing a traffic cone at her.
Despite the woman's repeated claims of being a resident of the neighborhood, the men reportedly shouted racial slurs and anti-Arab chants, including ‘Death to Arabs,’ as she attempted to leave the area.
NYPD officers were present at the scene but are accused of failing to intervene during the harassment. The woman later told CNN she was ‘terrified’ and eventually jumped into a police vehicle to escape the crowd. She has since demanded a hate crimes investigation, stating, “The crime was happening right in front of police officers, and they did nothing.”
A law enforcement official confirmed the NYPD is investigating the incident, but no details have been released about arrests or charges related specifically to the attack. The NYPD did confirm that at least one person was arrested during protests.
The woman, who requested anonymity for safety reasons, said she had not intended to join the protest but had been drawn to the location by helicopters flying overhead.
The incident has drawn condemnation from multiple groups, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). “We strongly condemn the violent mob of pro-Israel racists who chased and attacked a woman … all because they thought she was an Arab-American,” said Edward Ahmed Mitchell, CAIR’s deputy director.
A spokesperson for Chabad-Lubavitch, Rabbi Motti Seligson, also condemned the violence, describing it as the work of a “small breakaway group of young people.” He added, “Such actions are entirely unacceptable and wholly antithetical to the Torah’s values.”
The visit by Ben Gvir, known for his far-right views, has prompted protests at several stops during his US tour. The situation comes amid escalating campus protests across the US over Israel’s handling of the conflict in Gaza.
As investigations continue, civil rights groups and religious leaders are calling for accountability and a clear response from city and state authorities to ensure such hate-fueled incidents do not recur.