Joseph Borgen, 29, is an accountant from Upper East Side. Beaten by pro palestinian protestors in the middle of Times Square, 49th. st. & Broadway on Thursday 5/20/21. âÂÂThere was a rally at this location last week, which I had gone to. I wore a yarmulke last week, and nothing big happened. I showed up for the same rally this week. I got off the subway at 6:30 and started walking to the rally, and before I could even make it to the rally a few blocks away a guy started chasing me. I tried to get away and the next thing I knew I was surrounded by a whole crowd of people who proceeded to kick me, punch me, beat me down. I felt a liquid being poured on my face and at first I thought I was getting urinated on, but it tuned out I was getting maced and pepper sprayed. My face was on fire. That pain was worse than the concussion and all this other stuff that followed.â After what felt like four minutes of getting beaten, cops broke it up. A ambulance took him to Bellevue. âÂÂI have a concussion. I had an X-ray on my wrist. itâÂÂs not broken but itâÂÂs messed up. Every time I move it itâÂÂs in pain, probably sprained. I have bruises all over my body. I have a black eye. My face is banged up. IâÂÂm just sore all over my body. They were kicking me in my ribs, my stomach.â âÂÂI went there solely with the intention of standing side-by-side with my fellow Jews or whoever supports Israel. IâÂÂve heard of waves of hate increasing through the city, and maybe I was a little naive to think it would never happen to me. There are numerous minority groups that are currently under attack. IâÂÂve been in New York for my entire life and I would never in a million years have thought that it would get to this point where I would have to second guess wearing a yarmulke in public.â handout photo.
A Florida man, Salem Seleiman, has been indicted as the sixth attacker in the vicious assault on a Jewish man in Times Square in 2021, according to Manhattan prosecutors. The arrest of Seleiman, 28, took place on May 10, almost three years after he allegedly participated in the hateful mob that brutally beat Joseph Borgen during clashes between Israel and Palestinian supporters in Midtown. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office revealed that Seleiman was part of a group of men who directed antisemitic slurs at Borgen, including derogatory terms like “dirty Jew,” “filthy Jew,” and “f–k Israel.” Borgen, who was wearing a yarmulke, was thrown to the ground, punched, struck with a crutch, and pepper-sprayed during the attack, which was captured on camera and later went viral on social media.
Prosecutors further stated that as bystanders attempted to intervene, Seleiman deceitfully offered to help Borgen, only to deliver a kick to his face while he lay defenseless on the ground. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg condemned Seleiman’s alleged conduct, emphasizing that violently assaulting someone based on their religion is unacceptable. Bragg expressed his commitment to collaborating with law enforcement agencies, community groups, and local leaders to address attacks on the Jewish community.
Seleiman, who was extradited from Tampa, Florida, was arraigned in Manhattan Supreme Court on Thursday. He pleaded not guilty to hate crime assault and attempted gang assault charges. Judge Felicia Mennin set his bail at $50,000. Five other attackers involved in the assault have already been convicted and sentenced, including Mahmoud Musa, who received a seven-year prison term in November.
Joseph Borgen, the victim of the attack, has criticized the handling of his case by the DA’s office. He continues to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and wrist pain resulting from the assault, which left him with a concussion and other injuries. Borgen expressed relief that the men responsible for his beating are being held accountable but urged the DA’s office to apply the same standard to other antisemitic and hate crime cases. He specifically mentioned the Columbia University case, where charges against anti-Israel protesters were dropped by DA Bragg, leading to public backlash.
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There are no errors or inaccuracies in the post. However, since it does not provide any specific details or sources, it is difficult to verify the information. To ensure credibility, it is recommended to include specific sources such as news articles or official statements from Manhattan prosecutors.
This is truly a disturbing incident. It's disheartening to see such acts of violence targeting individuals based on their religious or ethnic background. I would be interested to know the author's thoughts on the rise of hate crimes and what measures they believe should be taken to address this issue. Additionally, do they think there is a need for increased awareness and education to promote tolerance and understanding among different communities?
Wow, it's great to see that justice is being served in this case. It's important to hold individuals accountable for their actions, especially when it comes to hate crimes. This post provides a clear and concise update on the situation, which helps to keep readers informed about the progress of the investigation. Keep up the good work!