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By: Jared Evan
In a disturbing incident that underscores the alarming rise in antisemitic hate crimes in New York City, Vincent Sumpter, a 22-year-old Brooklyn resident, was charged with multiple offenses, including four hate crime counts, after attacking Yechiel Dabrowskin near the Chabad Headquarters in Crown Heights. The attack, which took place around 2 a.m., involved Sumpter approaching Dabrowskin with antisemitic slurs, asking, “Do you want to die?” before stabbing him.
Dabrowskin, who narrowly escaped a potentially fatal injury, recounted the terrifying ordeal to Israel’s Kan 11 News, saying, “It’s very, very painful. I had internal bleeding, but thank God I had a miracle.” The knife, he said, came “very close to my heart.”
Sumpter, who has no prior criminal record in New York City, now faces several charges, including second- and third-degree assault and menacing, with four of these charges being prosecuted as hate crimes, NY Post reported
The attack comes at a time when antisemitic hate crimes in New York City have spiked dramatically.
According to NYPD data, there have been 229 reported antisemitic incidents this year, compared to 126 during the same period last year. This sharp increase follows the October 7 terror attack on Israel by Hamas, which led to the deaths of 1,200 people and the kidnapping of over 200, prompting Israel to launch a military campaign in Gaza.
Mark Treygar, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, condemned the attack in a post on X, describing it as an “abhorrent and abominable attack” and emphasizing that it should not be viewed as an isolated incident. His concerns echo the broader fear within the Jewish community as hate-fueled violence escalates.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries also expressed his outrage, calling the stabbing “deeply disturbing and completely unacceptable” in a tweet. He reinforced the sentiment that antisemitism has no place in society. New York Attorney General Letitia James joined the chorus of condemnation, writing on X, “This is a horrifying act of antisemitism and violence that will not be tolerated in New York.” She added that while she was thankful Dabrowskin would recover physically, the ongoing hate in the city and country cannot be ignored.
The NY Post pointed out that a witness to the incident told Freedom New TV that Sumpter appeared to be “looking for trouble” before the stabbing. This comment reflects the heightened anxiety within the community, as many now feel the need to be more vigilant. “It does make me a bit worried, but at the same time, I’m comfortable here,” the witness said. He added, “I do watch my back in general, but at the same time, it’s making you just be more wary and make sure there’s nothing happening behind you and you suddenly turn around and there’s a guy about to stab you.”
As the case moves forward, it remains unclear whether Sumpter has obtained legal representation. What is clear, however, is that this attack is part of a troubling pattern of antisemitic violence in New York City. The city’s leaders have made it clear that such acts will be met with the full force of the law, especially as hate crimes continue to rise at an alarming rate.
