NYC Streets Are No Longer Safe For Jews; 65-Year-Old Man Harassed & Spat At On Fifth Avenue

By: Karen Tovsky

Antisemitic crimes are up significantly since last year. In July alone, The NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force investigated 30 anti-Jewish offenses, compared to only 10 during the same period last year, according to data released in early August. Last month, Jews were targeted in more hate incidents than all other groups combined, as they have been nearly every month since war erupted in Gaza after Hamas’ October 7 massacre.

NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is looking for a suspect who made antisemitic remarks and spit in the face of a 65-year-old man in midtown Manhattan last month pic.twitter.com/ZzVweyk7d8

— Luke Tress (@luketress) August 28, 2024

As reported by the NY Post, one such crime took place on July 27, at 4:10 P.M., in broad daylight. A  65-year-old man was walking at the intersections of Fifth Avenue and East 68th Street, when he was approached by a stranger.

According to the Post, the antisemitic attacker growled, “Should I slap you or punch you?” Then added, “Hitler was right.” As if that wasn’t frightening enough, he proceeded to pull down the victim’s face mask and spit in his face. Then he ran off towards Madison Avenue.

“An antisemitic stranger snarled “Hitler was right” before spitting in a man’s face on the Upper East Side in broad daylight, cops said.”

“The hateful attacker approached the 65-year-old victim as he walked at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and East 68th Street around p.m.… pic.twitter.com/9AQLU9d6BI

— Trisha Posner (@trishaposner) August 28, 2024

The attacker was still at-large on Tuesday when the NYPD released a video of him strolling down the street. According to the NY Post and the police, he was described as having a medium complexion, wearing black pants, a black hat and a multicolored shirt. An investigation by The NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force is underway.

Only a couple of weeks before the attack, Allan Ripp, a former journalist, who now runs his own public relations firm was beaten in Central Park by a crazy stranger riding a Citi Bike, who called him “a f-king Jew Pig,” according to The NY Post, and threatened to kill him. Ripp suffered minor injuries. He had soft tissue swelling on his arms, but said the ramifications were more mental, calling the entire incident traumatic.