BROOKLYN (VINnews) – Two young Jewish men were brutally attacked Sunday in Brooklyn, and they say it’s because they where Jewish.
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Blake Zavadsky and Ilan Kaganovich, both 21, were at the Foot Locker in Bay Ridge shortly before 11 a.m. when they were allegedly accosted by two attackers.
“They asked us what we were doing in their neighborhood,” Zavadsky said. “They called us ‘dirty Jews.’”
Councilwoman Inna Vernikov released a video with the pair telling their story, and said the NYPD is investigating the incident as a hate crime.
My statement and more details: https://t.co/8plv9fcZq4 pic.twitter.com/47Ciemfuzp
— Councilwoman Inna Vernikov (@InnaVernikov) December 27, 2021
Vernikov noted a sad aspect on this vicious attack, saying “These boys’ families escaped the [former Soviet Union] precisely because of incidents such as this one.”
“We escaped to this country for freedom of religion, and here we go again, getting beaten up in broad daylight in the middle of Brooklyn, NY, in the United States of America,” she added, referencing her own heritage as a child of Ukrainian parents.
Despite the pro-Israel garb which triggered the attack, Zavadsky remains undeterred. “You can’t be scared to walk outside and say you’re Jewish,” he said. “You have to be proud of who you are and stand up for what you believe — and not be intimidated.”
Even Governor Kathy Hochul tweeted about the attack, saying “This is abhorrent and unacceptable. Antisemitism & all hate has no home in New York.”
Yesterday, two Jewish men were verbally & physically attacked in Brooklyn.
This is abhorrent and unacceptable. Antisemitism & all hate has no home in New York.
The @nyspolice Hate Crimes Task Force is assisting in the investigation & we're ready to offer additional support.
— Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) December 27, 2021
Police have not yet identified the suspects.
Kudos to Inna Vernikov for her intervention with the NYPD. She is showing herself to be an activist for the Jewish community.
That’s what you get for voting DemocRATic.
They allowed Moslems to saturate Brooklyn and you wonder. Where is fat Nadler and Schumer. Had it been two black kids the whole DemocRATic party would rise up. Dump every DemocRAT
Nypd hate crimes are notorious for doing nothing. Inna is great and that is why FJCC and aguda opposed her because she is independent and not part of the power structure hope she remembers she won DESPITE FJCC and Aguda who backed a frei liberal UFT member
2 years ago 7 black delinquents was attacking a Jewish special needs adult i jumped in to help him this happened in borough park midday no one came to help I fought them alone and they were yelling Hitler didn’t do his job in front of the cops they took them in and let them loose the cops told me their hands are tied
WE NEED A JDL
“in Bay Ridge”
Has Bay Ridge been transmogrified into a version of Beirut?
“Attacked because they were Jews”
“Wearing an IDF sweatshirt”
I bet they were attacked for the shirt. Sadly, Israel is engaged in a 100 year-long war. Displaying your support for one combatant in this conflict is an invitation for violence from supporters of the other party. (Don’t pretend it’s a one-sided war – you’d be making the same error as the free Palestine crowd.)
The antisemitism angle is mostly misdirection.
Very important t-shirt, helping the situation