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Edited by: Fern Sidman
Joseph Borgen, a Jewish hate crime victim who was brutally attacked by pro-Hamas supporters two years ago in the Times Square area of Manhattan, has spoken out against what he perceives as a lack of accountability for those involved in anti-Israel protests, as was reported in the New York Post. Borgen’s comments come as one of his attackers, Mohammed Othman, was sentenced to more than five years behind bars. The Post report added that in his statement outside Manhattan Supreme Court, Borgen criticized local politicians, including Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul, for being “nowhere to be found” when it comes to holding anti-Israel protesters accountable.
Borgen, 29, became a victim of a hate crime on May 20, 2021, during demonstrations over hostilities between Israel and Hamas. The Post report said that a group of men attacked Borgen in Midtown Manhattan, hurling anti-Semitic slurs during the assault, which was caught on video and later went viral. The violent attack on Borgen, who was wearing a yarmulke, drew attention to the rise in anti-Semitic incidents amid the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Speaking outside the courthouse, Borgen expressed disappointment in the response of local authorities to recent pro-Hamas demonstrations that have turned violent, citing a lack of accountability, the Post reported. He specifically called out Mayor Eric Adams, Governor Kathy Hochul, and other officials for their blatant inaction. As was noted in the Post report, Borgen highlighted a pro-Hamas, pro-terror march that was held on Monday in Manhattan, where demonstrators confronted actor Alec Baldwin in a hostile and highly aggressive manner, as an example of the ongoing tensions and the need for accountability.
Mohammed Othman, one of the five men convicted in the attack on Joseph Borgen, was sentenced to 5 ½ years in state prison followed by five years of post-release supervision, according to the report in the Post. Othman, 26, pleaded guilty to second-degree assault as a hate crime in October. As was indicated in the Post report, prosecutors revealed that Othman pepper-sprayed Borgen three times during the assault, and phone records indicated that the attack was premeditated. The sentencing marks a significant development in holding those responsible for the hate crime accountable, the report added.
Othman is the fourth attacker to be sentenced in connection with the anti-Semitic attack. The Post report also indicated that Mahmoud Musa, 23, received the harshest sentence of seven years, while Waseem Awadeh, who expressed intent to repeat the assault, was sentenced to 18 months in June. Faisal Elezzi received a 60-day prison sentence after violating probation.
During the sentencing, Assistant District Attorney Jonathon Junig sought a five-year prison sentence for Othman, emphasizing the premeditated nature of the attack. As per the report in the Post, Othman’s defense attorney, Leo Duvalle, attempted to downplay Othman’s role, arguing that pepper-spraying wasn’t as severe as physical beating. The Post report also said that Duvalle portrayed his client as kind, compassionate, and someone with no expressed animus or hatred toward people of the Jewish faith. However, the court ultimately handed down a sentence reflecting the severity of the hate crime.
Borgen continues to grapple with post-traumatic stress disorder and physical pain resulting from the assault, which included multiple instances of pepper-spraying, the Post report said. While Othman apologized in court, the judge, Felicia Mennin, emphasized his failure to disengage from the assault, leading to the enhanced sentence. The sentencing is part of ongoing legal proceedings against those involved in the attack.
The attack left Borgen with a concussion and various injuries, underscoring the lasting impact of such incidents on victims.
Judge Mennin highlighted Othman’s multiple instances of pepper-spraying, including an incident involving a bystander, as well as throwing a firecracker from a truck that caused burns to a woman, the Post report said. The judge’s decision reflected Othman’s three opportunities to disengage from the assault, emphasizing the severity of his actions.
Borgen expressed satisfaction with the sentencing, expressing hope that it would serve as a deterrent against future violence targeting Jewish people and others. The legal proceedings against the attackers represent a step toward accountability and justice for victims of hate crimes.
The impact of such hate crimes extends beyond the courtroom, emphasizing the need for broader societal awareness and action against the dramatic escalation of anti-Semitic attacks.
