Antisemitic hate crimes in New York City have seen a staggering 45% increase this year, according to recently obtained police data. The statistics reveal that from January 1 to April 14, 2024, a total of 96 anti-Jewish incidents were reported, compared to 66 during the same period last year. These alarming figures come in the wake of the surprise attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023, which has had a lasting impact on public safety.
One of the reported attacks occurred on February 11, when Obadiah Lashley allegedly assaulted a 25-year-old man on Staten Island, hurling the derogatory term “dirty Jew” before striking him in the head with a baseball bat. Lashley, a 29-year-old stranger to the victim, fled the scene but was later apprehended. He now faces charges including hate crime/assault, assault, criminal possession of a weapon, aggravated harassment, and menacing.
Another incident involved a hate-filled individual who tore off David Kent’s yarmulke on an Upper West Side street, shouting derogatory slurs such as “Fake Jew” and “f—t!” The perpetrator, identified as Kevin Dunlop, 28, was found in possession of a gravity knife on a keychain when apprehended by the police. Dunlop has been charged with criminal mischief involving a hate crime and criminal possession of a weapon.
In response to the surge in antisemitic hate crimes, the NYPD has announced increased patrols at synagogues during Passover, which begins next week. Police Commissioner Edward Caban emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety of Jews who openly display their religious identity, stating that they should not have to feel insecure or anxious. Rabbi Alvin Kass, the chief chaplain of the NYPD, expressed his dismay that antisemitism continues to persist after thousands of years.
