Rep. Zeldin, Crown Heights Community Leaders Speak Out Against Lack of Punishment for Antisemitic Hate Crimes

Statement

Today, Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1) was joined in Crown Heights by Americans Against Antisemitism Founder and Former Assemblyman Dov Hikind, New York City Councilman Kalman Yeger, Yosef Hershkop, a leader in the local Jewish community who was recently the victim of a violent antisemitic attack committed in front of his 5-year-old son, and other leaders in the Crown Heights community to speak out against recent violent antisemitic attacks, the spread of antisemitic hate throughout New York and the lack of serious consequences and punishment for those who commit hate crimes against Jewish New Yorkers.

A recent report from Americans Against Antisemitism details that of the hundreds of hate crimes committed against Jewish New Yorkers since 2018, only one of the offenders has served even a single day in prison. New York State led the entire nation in antisemitic incidents in 2021, and in the span of less than two weeks in May, there were three antisemitic assaults in Brooklyn alone. The most gruesome incident came at the corner of Utica Avenue and President Street, where a young Rabbi was punched and kicked in the head, had antisemitic slurs shouted at him, and was forced to go to the hospital due to his injuries. Additionally, in July, Yosef Hershkop was violently attacked in Crown Heights in front of his young son.

"For far too long, Jewish New Yorkers have lived in fear of violence and hate because of their religious beliefs. The data is alarming. New York State leads the nation in antisemitic incidents. Arrests for attacks on Jews in 2022 already far exceed last year's total. Out of hundreds of hate crimes committed, only one offender has served even a single day in prison. The data is overwhelming," said Congressman Zeldin. "Instead of violent antisemites declaring open season on Jewish New Yorkers, it's long past time for the criminal justice system in this state to bring down the hammer big time on these criminals and make it crystal clear that there is a zero tolerance policy for violent attacks on innocent victims and religious freedom."

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