Look at what some hate-filled clown did. A reader sent this photo in this morning. It happened on Avenue Z and Haring Street, an area where many of the community’s Muslim residents live.
We’re waiting to hear if this was reported to police, and if it’s being investigated as a hate crime.
Update (10:45 a.m.): Reader Vadym S. confirms that police are investigating. We’re still waiting to hear from NYPD whether or not it’s being referred to the Hate Crimes Unit.
Update (12:45 p.m.): Public Advocate Bill de Blasio has weighed in, with a statement condemning the vandalism.
This revolting act of prejudice was meant to intimidate New Yorkers on their streets and in their homes – but because of our unity and our strength, it’s not going to work. We won’t stand for anti-Muslim bigotry – not in Sheepshead Bay, not in Brooklyn, not anywhere in our city. Anyone with information on these perpetrators should come forward right away by calling 1-800-577-TIPS.
Update (2:28 p.m.): District Leader Ari Kagan, a candidate for City Council, also weighed in:
I was deeply saddened and troubled to learn of yesterday’s hate crime, targeting Muslims, in Sheepshead Bay. Southern Brooklyn is a vibrant, diverse community, home to families from all across the world. There is absolutely no place for such hateful behavior in our communities. We must stand with our District Attorney to ensure these perpetrators are brought to justice. Our neighbors will, of course, assist the NYPD with their investigation. I encourage any one with information on this crime to step forward.
Kagan, it’s worth noting, is against the Voorhies Avenue mosque, protests over which some say has made this kind of anti-Muslim sentiment publicly acceptable.
How sick and stupid can people be? Sick and stupid enough to brave the elements of Hurricane Sandy just to paint swastikas around the neighborhood, apparently.
The one above was photographed by reader Alex P., on the side of Z Best Car Wash (2784 Coney Island Avenue).
Pathetic.
A swastika found in Gerritsen Beach last week (Source: GerritsenBeach.net)
A militant Jewish organization announced over the weekend that it will send “security teams” to Marine Park, calling for Jewish residents witnessing anti-Semitic acts of vandalism to “smash the neo-Nazis to pieces physically.”
The Jewish Defense Organization is deploying their patrols in Marine Park, Borough Park and other areas that were recently targeted by anti-Semitic vandals. The neighborhood has been plagued by hate-related graffiti, most recently in late June when a swastika was painted on a sidewalk near a Marine Park synagogue. Last week, swastikas were found on a bulkhead in nearby Gerritsen Beach.
Keep reading for the JDO’s full statement, and the NYPD’s response.
Source: GerritsenBeach.net
GerritsenBeach.net is reporting that swastikas and other hate-related graffiti were discovered along the bulkhead on Devon Avenue in Gerritsen Beach.
The site published photos of several versions of a swastika, including one with a circle around it and the word “Hail” scrolled above it.
It’s not the only graffiti on the bulkhead; the site describes it as a problematic area with vandals covering much of it in spray-paint, and, recently, a thief broke into several boats and stole supplies.
GerritsenBeach.net is calling for “neighbors and police [to] monitor and patrol this area.”
The following is a message from the offices of Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz:
In a push to punish those responsible for hate crimes, including the latest epidemic of anti-Semitic crimes plaguing our community, as a member of the Assembly’s Codes Committee, I called on the City’s District Attorneys to immediately seek the maximum penalty for defendants accused of hate crimes and asked Judges to impose the maximum sentence allowed upon conviction.
We are seeing an increase in the frequency of anti-Semitic incidents. Those who commit these abominable crimes must realize that there is a real penalty to pay for their actions. Most of these offenses are property-based, but the recent physical assault upon a Jewish man walking home from Sabbath services, by teens who hit him in the face and shouted derogatory epithets about his obviously religious appearance, highlights the critical need for harsher penalties.
Those who choose to act on the hatred in their hearts must know that they can expect to receive the maximum penalty that our Penal Code allows. We need to show the perpetrators of these offensive acts that there is no place for their hatred in our civilized society. We as legislators intended that the penalty for the commission of a hate crime be harsher than other crimes.The judiciary must now use its power to carry out our legislative intent.
I am working with law enforcement officials in an effort to swiftly bring those who commit these and other hate crimes to justice. As the son of Holocaust survivors and a representative of one of the largest populations of Holocaust survivors, I am concerned over the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services’ annual “Hate Crimes in New York State” report, showing a 27 percent increase of hate crimes throughout New York City (350), while hate crimes in New York State dropped by 14 percent. The 2011 report also revealed that Jews were the most frequent targets of hate crimes and that, nearly 70 years after the end of the Holocaust, swastikas are still being placed on property throughout New York State. (Please see below a copy of a letter sent to our Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes. Also note similar letters were sent to all our Borough’s District Attorneys).
Read a copy of the letter Cymbrowitz sent to DA Hynes.
The following is a press release from the offices of Councilman Lew Fidler:
Council Member Lew Fidler along with Assembly Members Alan Maisel and Helene Weinstein expressed outrage and shock over the recent escalation of anti-Semitic vandalism and assaults in their Brooklyn communities.
The most recent incident occurred yesterday, when a swastika was discovered on the sidewalk adjacent to a synagogue in Marine Park. This follows numerous recent hate crimes, which include swastikas or anti-Semetic words that were discovered at several locations throughout Borough Park, Kensington and Williamsburg, and the beating of a an orthodox man as he returned from Shul last week in Sheephead Bay. While the group of thugs brutally beat their victim, they shouted “dirty Jew” and “Kike”.
“We must not tolerate this kind of hateful behavior in our neighborhoods. I am pleased that the NYPD has agreed to our demand for increase patrols and thank Shomrim for stepping up their presence, as well. It is imperative that the members of our communities feel safe, and we are going to both nip this in the bud and bring these thugs to justice. This recent rash of bias crimes is under investigation by the NYPD Hate Crimes Unit, and I am confident that, through the combined efforts of all involved, we will prevail. I have asked Brooklyn D.A. Charles Hynes to prosecute all responsible parties to the fullest extent of the law.” said Councilman Lew Fidler.
“Once again, we are confronted with the outrageous behavior of a hate-filled person who has no respect for our community or the tradition of tolerance that makes our country great. I am grateful to the NYC Police Department for quickly responding to this hateful incident and doing everything that they can to find those who are responsible,” stated Assemblyman Alan Maisel.
“I am appalled that a hateful act like this was committed just steps from Merkaz Yisroel of Marine Park, a cornerstone of this community. Vandalism like this is an insult to tolerance, a trait imbued by Merkaz Yisroel, founded in 1932 as the Marine Park Jewish Center. I call upon the District Attorney’s office to work with the NYPD and community in apprehending those responsible and use them as examples in order to deter others who wish to disrupt our peace and quality of life” said Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein upon hearing about the most recent incident.
The unified lawmakers are seeking assistance by asking anyone who may have information to please come forward and call the Confidential NYPD TIPS LINE at 1-800-577-TIPS.
Bedford Avenue and Gravesend Neck Road, the scene of the alleged hate crime. (Source: Google Maps)
An Orthodox Jewish man was assaulted on Friday by a gang of thugs following Sabbath services, Councilman Michael Nelson has told Sheepshead Bites.
In a press release expressing shock and outrage over a recent spate of anti-Semitic vandalism in Jewish communities across Brooklyn, Nelson described the assault that happened in his own district. In the release, Nelson was joined by other local elected condemning the attack.
The NYPD’s Hate Crimes Unit is investigating the assault.
Here’s the relevant portion of the release:
“The man was brutally assaulted simply because he is a Jew.” A band of 5 or 6 perpetrators accosted the individual on Bedford Avenue & Neck Road in Sheepshead Bay, called him a “Kike” and a “dirty Jew,” and then two of them proceeded to pummel him with their fists leaving the man injured with a black eye and other contusions.
“I am speechless that such acts of hate and violence, which harken back to what the Nazis did, are occurring right here in communities that boldly pride themselves on their rich diversity,” Councilman Nelson asserted. “We are a civilized society and must not tolerate hate crimes of any kind,” stressed Nelson. “Anti-Semitism is not just an attack on members of the Jewish faith; it is an attack on everyone. We must therefore ALL stand united to tackle this problem in a way that discourages such reprehensible, cowardly acts,” Nelson asserted.
“I will not tolerate this kind of behavior in our neighborhood. I am pleased that the NYPD has agreed to our demand for increase patrols and thank Shomrim for stepping up their presence, as well. We are going to both nip this in the bud and bring these thugs to justice,” said Councilman Lew Fidler.
“These incidents are under investigation by the NYPD Hate Crimes Unit,” stated Councilman Michael C. Nelson.
“I am appalled by this reprehensible action of Anti-Semitism. This bias incident will not be tolerated, and we ask individuals with information to please come forward and call the Confidential NYPD TIPS LINE at 1-800-577-TIPS,” said Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein upon hearing about Friday night’s attack.
Manhattan Borough President – and mayoral contender - Scott Stringer sent out the following statement shortly after our report on Friday about the Avenue Z Jewish Center (875 Avenue Z) being vandalized with anti-Semitic graffiti. He wrote:
I am outraged by the news that the Avenue Z Jewish Center in Brooklyn has once again been defaced by anti-Semitic vandals, with graffiti on the entrance door to the center, as well as a sidewalk and nearby synagogue windows. There is no place in our community for this kind of vulgar and cowardly attack—and memories are still fresh of the February, 2011 vandalism at the center which looted a donation box and destroyed a large menorah and a Torah. I urge anyone with knowledge of this incident to contact the NYPD immediately, and I have no doubt that through their great work these perpetrators will be caught.
To our knowledge, the Manhattan politician is the only elected official to issue a statement relating to this incident.
An example of the graffiti found in front of the Avenue Z Jewish Center (Photo: Ari Kagan)
Ari Kagan, the Russian-American journalist and community liaison for Comptroller John Liu, dropped us a note informing us that the Avenue Z Jewish Center (875 Avenue Z) was hit again by anti-Semitic vandals over the weekend, making it the second incident in a little over a year.
According to Kagan:
Graffiti appeared on the entrance door of the Avenue Z Jewish Center, as well as at a sidewalk leading to it. President of the center Jay Freeze and board member Felix Filler expressed real concern about numerous signs on a sidewalk, like “Russ Jews”, “Jews”, “Russ” and stars of David. Similar graffiti with the same handwriting could be seen at the windows of the synagogue.
In February 2011, vandals smashed the back window of the Avenue Z Jewish Center and stole $200 from a donation box. They also destroyed a large menorah and a Torah, costing thousands of dollars. The perps were never found, despite a $1,000 reward offered by Councilman Michael Nelson.
According to Kagan, the Avenue Z Jewish Center has informed the NYPD’s 60th Precinct and Community Board 13, and will soon install security cameras to guard the entrance.
Correction (12:28 p.m.): The original version of this article inaccurately stated that the center notified Community Board 15. It was actually Community Board 13. We regret any confusion this may have caused.
A 60th Precinct squad car at the scene of the mezuzah thefts, 3000 Ocean Parkway
The seemingly never-ending scourge of anti-Semitic property defacement throughout Southern Brooklyn continues, as the vandal suspected of ripping seven mezuzot off the doorframes on the 15th, 18th and 19th floors of 3000 Ocean Parkway in Brighton Beach has likely struck again.
According to a 23-year-old resident of the Trump Village Apartments, their mezuzah — a small, encased parchment inscribed with Hebrew Torah verses and affixed to the doorframe in accordance with Jewish law — was stolen on Sunday night.
The NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force is continuing to probe the thefts, but the building has no surveillance cameras monitoring its hallways, making it difficult to determine who is committing the crimes, and when.
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