Assault in Crown Heights Highlights Tensions Amid Protests
By Jake Offenhartz, Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — A disturbing incident unfolded in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, where a woman was aggressively chased and assaulted by a mob of Orthodox Jewish men mistaken for a protester against far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. The woman, in her 30s and a lifelong resident of the area, reported feeling terrorized as the confrontation escalated around the global headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement.
Witnesses recorded the episode, capturing men kicking her, spitting, and hurling objects at her while chanting threats. Despite her attempts to seek safety with a police officer, the mob relentlessly pursued her. “I had nowhere to go,” she recalled.
Mayor Eric Adams condemned the violence, emphasizing the importance of peaceful protest and pledging a thorough investigation. While one arrest was made, authorities have not confirmed charges against any assailants. Chabad-Lubavitch leaders denounced both the situation surrounding the protest and the ensuing violence, voicing grave concerns about safety in the community. This incident follows a series of intense protests in response to Ben-Gvir’s U.S. visit, a figure known for his controversial positions and past convictions related to incitement.
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