Mob chased Brooklyn woman after mistaking her for protester at speech by Israeli security minister
A Brooklyn woman faced a terrifying ordeal when she was mistaken for a protester and attacked by a mob near the Chabad-Lubavitch headquarters following a visit by Israel's far-right security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir. She was encircled, threatened, and physically assaulted by a group of Orthodox Jewish men who mistook her as part of a protest against Ben-Gvir, despite her attempts to protect her identity with a scarf. The incident, which was captured on video, left her with physical injuries and a shaken sense of safety in her long-time neighborhood. New York City Mayor Eric Adams condemned the violence, emphasizing the city's commitment to peaceful protests and stating that the police were investigating the clash. The event highlighted ongoing tensions surrounding Ben-Gvir's U.S. visit and the historic sensitivities of the Crown Heights area, prompting condemnations from various Jewish groups against both the protesters and the mob's actions.
The woman, who lives in the Crown Heights neighborhood, was mistakenly identified as a protester during a demonstration against Israeli security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and was subsequently chased and assaulted by a group of Orthodox Jewish men.
During the attack, the mob shouted threats and obscenities, and despite the presence of police, she felt unprotected until a lone officer attempted to escort her to safety, facing continued harassment.
The incident, recorded by a bystander, showed the woman being kicked, hit with objects, and verbally threatened, highlighting the intensity of the mob's aggression and her subsequent fear for her life.
Mayor Eric Adams condemned the violence and emphasized that New York City would not tolerate such actions, while the police investigation into the incident remains ongoing with limited arrests and summonses issued.
The protest around Ben-Gvir's appearance has drawn criticism from Jewish groups for targeting a religious site and igniting historical tensions in a neighborhood known for past antisemitic violence, with leaders denouncing the provocative actions of both the protesters and the mob.