Mob Confuses Brooklyn Woman for Protester During Israeli Security Minister’s Speech: A Shocking Incident Unfolds

A woman in Brooklyn recently shared her harrowing experience of being attacked by a group of Orthodox Jewish men. This occurred during a protest related to Israel’s far-right security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir.

The incident happened near the Chabad-Lubavitch headquarters. The woman, in her 30s, heard about the protest after noticing police helicopters. As she approached, the crowd was mostly gone, but when she covered her face with a scarf to avoid being filmed, a group quickly surrounded her.

“They shouted threats and chanted hateful slogans,” she recounted. Initially, she thought the police would help her, but they seemed passive as the mob grew more aggressive. A lone police officer attempted to guide her to safety, but the crowd followed, shouting in both Hebrew and English.

In a video captured by a bystander, some men kicked her, while others lobbed objects at her. One man even yelled, “This is America. We got Israel. We got an Army now.” The chaos left her feeling trapped and terrified.

“I had nowhere to go,” she said. “It was sheer terror.” After several blocks, the officer finally managed to put her in a police vehicle, but even then, the crowd cheered as she was whisked away.

Despite being a long-time New Yorker, she now feels uneasy in her own neighborhood. “I’m afraid to move around,” she explained, expressing doubt that anyone in authority cares about her experience.

Community Response

In the wake of this incident, the police have confirmed that one person was arrested and others received summonses. Mayor Eric Adams stated that the police were looking into clashes arising from the protests.

Interestingly, this isn’t the first time tensions have flared in this neighborhood. The area was previously marked by the 1991 Crown Heights riots, where racial tensions erupted over the tragic death of a child. That historical context adds depth to the ongoing strife in Brooklyn.

Rabbi Motti Seligson of Chabad-Lubavitch condemned both the mob that chased the woman and the protest itself, emphasizing that such acts of violence and intimidation are unacceptable. He pointed out that the actions contradicted the moral teachings of the Torah.

Expert opinions highlight that incidents like this reflect broader societal issues. Dr. Rachel Goldstein, a social psychologist, emphasizes that communal violence often arises from deep-seated fears and misunderstandings. As communities grapple with political disagreements, the tension can manifest in real, harmful ways.

This incident resonates beyond individual experiences, connecting to a larger narrative about safety, community, and the rights of individuals to protest peacefully. It serves as a stark reminder of how misunderstandings can escalate into conflict, urging a call for empathy and dialogue in these divisive times.

For more detailed investigations into hate crime trends, check the [FBI’s Hate Crime Statistics](https://www.fbi.gov/services/cjis/ucr/hate-crime). Understanding these events allows us to navigate our communities with more awareness and compassion.