Protest against anti-Semitism held in Brooklyn after Jews attacked in hate crime assault

(JNS) New Yorkers gathered in Brooklyn to protest anti-Semitism following the recent attack on two Jewish men in the neighborhood of Bay Ridge.

An estimated 100 people gathered for Sunday’s protest, which was held exactly a week after Blake Zavadsky was physically assaulted in Brooklyn for wearing a sweatshirt that featured the emblem of the Israel Defense Forces. Zavadsky was punched in the face twice and had coffee thrown on him after he and his friend Ilan Kaganovich, both 21, were called “dirty Jews” and asked why they were in the neighborhood.

The NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating the crime, and released photos and video footage of Zavadsky’s attacker.

New York City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov organized Sunday’s protest, during which Zavadsky spoke, and many protesters wore garments that showed support for the IDF. Vernikov led the protesters as they marched through Brooklyn chanting “Am Israel Chai” (“the Jewish people live”) and told the crowd that gathered “We stand here today with one united message: we will not be intimidated.”

Protestors also carried signs that read “End Jew-Hatred” while across the street pro-Palestinian activists held a counter-protest.

According to the NYPD, out of the 416 hate crime attacks that took place between January and October 2021 in the city, 144 targeted Jews, i24News reported.