A crowd of demonstrators gathered outside the building to protest an event involving Itamar Ben-Gvir but arguments between the two groups descended into violence
April 28, 2025 13:20
The NYPD has launched an investigation into violent clashes between a group of Charedi men and pro-Palestine protestors outside a prominent shul last week.
Demonstrators gathered outside the Chabad-Lubavitch world headquarters on Saturday night in protest at the group’s decision to host far-right Israeli defence minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who is part way through a US tour.
Crowds of activists, some of them wearing masks or face coverings, accused Ben-Gvir of war crimes, claimed that Israel is responsible for a genocide in Gaza and called for intifada.
However, the scene quickly descended into violence as members of the Chabad community emerged from the building.
This is a truly disgusting and shameful scene, in which hundreds of men (many supporters of Ben Gvir) were physically attacking a single woman and a New York police officer protecting her, violently throwing objects at her and chanting “death to Arabs.” Of course, what the… pic.twitter.com/KySChYFMD1
— Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib (@afalkhatib) April 27, 2025
Attendees claimed that the men had assaulted them and social media images show at least one woman left bloodied in the street.
A clip circulating online showed a group of Charedi men following a woman, who has subsequently claimed she was not involved in the protest itself, and chanting “death to Arabs” in Hebrew as she was escorted away by a police officer.
The crowd, which appeared to include a number of young boys, shouted abuse at the woman, attempted to grab her and threw water bottles until she was placed into a police car and driven away.
Another video, purporting to have been filmed by the woman herself shortly beforehand, showed one member of the crowd asking: “Do you want someone to bend you over and f****** rape you like they’re doing to the Jews in f****** Palestine?”
In response, New York mayor Eric Adams ordered an investigation into the incident, saying: “[Protestors] surrounded the Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters — a Jewish house of worship.
"Initial reports indicate that one female protester was isolated from her group, harassed by counter-protesters, and suffered injuries.
“None of this is acceptable. In fact, it is despicable.
"We will not tolerate violence, trespassing, menacing, or threatening. Hate has no place in our city.”
He added that the NYPD was investigating the clashes and that one arrest was made and “several summonses issued”.
It comes as Adams is under fire from within his own Democratic Party in the wake of allegations that he struck a deal with the Trump administration to drop charges of conspiracy, fraud, soliciting illegal campaign contributions, and bribery in return for a commitment on cooperation with immigration enforcement in his city.
Prosecutors had alleged that Adams had accepted more than £75,000 in gifts from Turkish nationals in exchange for political favours.
The charges were brought under the Biden administration but in February, Trump’s deputy attorney general Emil Bove ordered the Justice Department to drop the case as it “restricted” Adams’ ability to address “illegal immigration and violent crime".
Danielle Sassoon, New York’s most senior prosecutor, resigned over the order along with six other officials, claiming it could not be legally justified.
Adams insists that he has never discussed his legal case with Trump and has denied any suggestion of a secretive agreement.
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