Anti-Semitic crimes in NYC up nearly 300% in January

Anti-Semitic crimes in New York City rose by almost 300% in January over the same period last year, NYPD hate crime statistics show.

January saw 15 reported crimes against Jewish people compared to only four reported crimes in January 2021. 

In Williamsburg, swastikas were drawn on two yeshiva school buses Friday night. In a different incident, a man rapidly approached a 24-year-old Jewish Hasidic man wearing traditional clothing from behind and punched him in the back of the head. He knocked the man’s Shtreimel (Hasidic fur hat) off his head and the victim lost his balance. Another assault against a visibly identifiable Jewish person was reported in the same area of Brooklyn. 

On 2/4/22, at approx 10:26 PM, at 104 Stockton St, an individual approached a male, 24, dressed in traditional Hasidic attire, and punched him in the face. Info? DM us or @NYPDTips or ☎️1-800-577-TIPS @NYPDDetectives @NYPD79Pct @UnitedJewish @ADL_NYNJ @JCRCNY @NYPDSHOMRIMSOCI pic.twitter.com/pHRN3vUwrB

— NYPD Hate Crimes (@NYPDHateCrimes) February 7, 2022

Police are investigating the recent attacks as hate crimes and the Anti-Defamation League is offering a $7,500 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. 

“The Jewish community is on extreme edge, and this violence has got to stop. It is becoming normalized, and we simply cannot accept that as the state of affairs," Scott Richman, ADL regional director, said in a statement. 

We are offering a $7.5k reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual/s responsible for two reportedly #antisemitic assaults in #Williamsburg on Friday night. Urging those with info to contact @NYPDTips & @NYPDHateCrimes. Our statement here: pic.twitter.com/wGKlH7Vt8u

— ADL New York / New Jersey (@ADL_NYNJ) February 6, 2022

In December, New York City Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said that more than half of the spiking hate crimes in New York City target Jewish and Asian residents. She pointed out the "mass amounts" of people who land back on the streets since bail reform was passed.

“When you have mass amounts of people put back on the streets that have traditionally been held in jail, you're seeing some of that permeate here as well. I mean, that's just a fact. It's a fact that people don't want to talk about,” she told WPIX 11. 

In 2020, there were 116 complaints involving hate-crime incidents against Jewish people, according to NYPD statistics. Of 93 people arrested for hate crimes that year, 25 were believed to have committed them against Jewish people.

Another Hate Crime incident in Williamsburg: ⁦@WspuShomrim⁩ , ⁦@NYPD90Pct⁩ & ⁦@NYPDHateCrimes⁩ Task Force are investigating after Multiple Yeshiva School Buses were sprayed with swastika graffiti on Division Ave & Rodney St. pic.twitter.com/qreREonXfn

— WILLIAMSBURG NEWS (@WMSBG) February 6, 2022