New York Governor Andrew Cuomo condemns antisemitic attack in Manhattan
Police arrested 28-year-old Steven Jorge on Tuesday for assaulting a 65-year-old Orthodox Jew in New York's Midtown, the New York Post reported.
By AARON REICHNew York Governor Andrew Cuomo.(photo credit: REUTERS)
"I was disgusted to learn of the verbal and physical attack against an Orthodox Jewish man on the upper East side of Manhattan on Tuesday,” New York Governor Andrew Cuomo wrote in . “This horrific and cowardly act of antisemitism is repugnant to our values, and it's even more despicable that it occurred over the holidays.”Cuomo said that the instructed New York State police to help the NYPD “hold the attacker responsible to the fullest extent of the law.” He also said that New York has “absolutely zero tolerance for bigotry and hate” and pledged to “continue to call it out whenever and wherever it rears its ugly head."Police arrested 28-year-old Steven Jorge on Tuesday for assaulting a 65-year-old Orthodox Jew in New York's Midtown, the New York Post reported.According to the NYPD, the incident occurred the day before at around 11 a.m. on E. 41st Street near 3rd Avenue. Jorge reportedly came across the victim, who wore a noticeable black kippah, and shouted "F**k you Jew bastard!"Jorge then allegedly proceeded to physically assault the victim.This incident comes amid a rise in antisemitic incidents in both New York and in the overall United States.Earlier this month, an Israeli woman and Jewish man were attacked on the New York subway, with the attacker having shouted antisemitic slurs.In September, the NYPD reported that more than half of all hate crimes in the city were antisemitic.“What is happening in NYC, with attacks against Jews has created a deep and growing concern in our community,” said Dov Hikind, former state assemblyman and founder of Americans Against Antisemitism. “The victim of this hate crime is in total shock and disbelief. He is traumatized and will live forever with this wanton attack.”The damage isn't limited to New York alone. Earlier this month, an antisemitic attack took place in Jersey City, New Jersey, where a kosher supermarket was the scene of a brutal and targeted shooting spree and battle with the police.
