Hate Crime Charges Filed Against Two in Attack on Jewish Woman Filming Poster Rippers

MANHATTAN – Two women who attacked a passerby as she filmed them ripping down Israeli hostage posters on Manhattan’s Upper West Side are now under arrest and being hit with multiple charges, including hate crimes, in connection with the incident.

Police said that the incident occurred on November 9th just before 10 PM at the corner of Riverside Drive and West 82nd Street, when a 41 year old Jewish woman started filming two people on her cell phone as they tore down posters that had been taped to a light pole.

A conversation ensued, and the two poster-vandals attacked the woman, ripping off her Star of David necklace and knocking her phone out of her hands.

The two vandals fled the scene on foot.

The victim, whose phone was damaged and sustained minor injuries to her face and neck, refused medical attention. Police turned to the public for help identifying the two attackers, with 25 year old Yonkers resident Stephanie Gonzalez arrested on November 20th and charged with attempted robbery and hate crime/assault.

26 year old Manhattan resident Mehwish Omer was arrested one week later on November 27th and charged with hate crime/assault and hate crime/criminal mischief.