Attack on Joseph Borgen

Last updated

On May 20, 2021, Joseph "Joey" Borgen, a 29-year old Jewish man, was assaulted and beaten in an antisemitic hate crime while heading to a pro-Israel rally in New York City. Borgen was wearing a yarmulke, a visible Jewish skullcap. Five pro-Palestinian [1] [2] [3] [4] activists were arrested and found guilty for the attack and received sentences of up to 7 years in prison.

Contents

The attack took place during the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis and drew national attention amid a rise of antisemitic assaults in the United States during the crisis.

Background

From May 10 to 21, 2021, there was a major outbreak of violence in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, marked by Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel and Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. As the fighting intensified, synagogues were vandalized in Illinois, Arizona, California and Utah, and Holocaust museums were defaced in Florida and Alaska. [5]

Attack

On May 20, 2021, Upper East Side resident Joseph "Joey" Borgen, a 29-year old Jewish man, was on his way to meet friends at a pro-Israel rally in Times Square in New York City. He was wearing a yarmulke , a visible Jewish skullcap. [2] [5] Borgen got off the New York City Subway a few blocks from where a pro-Palestine rally was taking place. [2] Around 6:30 pm, Borgen was attacked by five men on Broadway near West 49th Street in the Diamond District, which is closely associated with New York City's Jewish community. [6] According to Borgen, he was followed from 48th street, then "I was surrounded by a crowd...making anti-Jewish comments." According to Borgen and an investigation by the New York Police Department (NYPD), the attackers called Borgen a "dirty Jew" and said "die Jew", and other antisemitic remarks. In addition, the attackers said "F--- Israel, we're going to kill you". [2] [5] [7]

During the attack, Borgen was punched, kicked, pepper-sprayed, and beat with crutches, according to the NYPD. He was hospitalized at Bellevue Hospital with a concussion and bruising. [5] [2]

Aftermath

ABC News reported the Anti-Defamation League described the attack against Borgen as part of a wider pattern of violence against American Jews during the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis. During the 11-day crisis, antisemitic incidents in the U.S. increased 115% compared to the same time period in 2020, according to the Anti-Defamation League. [5] [8] The beating and subsequent prosecutions drew national attention. Borgen was one of several Jewish people attacked across the United States as violence flared during the crisis in the Middle East. [8] Borgen was invited to the White House as part of a group hoping to call attention to rising extremism. [2]

A Jewish security group attributed a deterrent effect to the prosecution of Borgen's attackers and effective controlling of protests by police as the reason for fewer antisemitic attacks during the 2023 Israel-Hamas war. [9]

The court battles in the years following the attack led to criticism from activists that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg was too slow to prosecute the attacks and that his office was lenient on the attackers. Borgen's father Barry testified at an April 2023 hearing of the U.S. House of Representatives House Judiciary Committee about violent crime in Manhattan. [10] [2]

The Manhattan District Attorney's Office under Albin Bragg charged and received guilty verdicts for 5 men in relation to the attack:

Reactions

The attack was condemned by local and national figures. Mayor of New York City Bill de Blasio said, "It's absolutely disgusting and unacceptable. We have had a man viciously beaten simply because he appeared to some individuals to be Jewish. We had folks throwing very potent fireworks and creating harm to others and burning some folk, at least one person. This is unacceptable." "What happened last night is absolutely unacceptable. There is no place for anti-Semitism in New York City. We will not tolerate it. My message is very clear. Anyone who commits such an act is going to be arrested and prosecuted." [6] The day after the attack, De Blasio and other New York City leaders and police officials met with Jewish community leaders at New York City Hall. [7] [8]

New York governor Andrew Cuomo directed the New York State Police Hate Crimes Task Force to assist the NYPD with the investigation. [7] The Anti-Defamation League also condemned the attack, saying "violence is absolutely unacceptable." [7] In the wake of the surge of antisemitic violence, 51 Holocaust survivors who volunteered at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum issued a statement. President Joe Biden acknowledged the antisemitism surge, vowing in a May 28 statement that the U.S. Department of Justice "will be deploying all of the tools at its disposal to combat hate crimes." [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the Jews in Sweden</span>

The history of Jews in Sweden can be traced from the 17th century, when their presence is verified in the baptism records of the Stockholm Cathedral. Several Jewish families were baptised into the Lutheran Church, a requirement for permission to settle in Sweden. In 1681, for example, 28 members of the families of Israel Mandel and Moses Jacob were baptised in the Stockholm German Church in the presence of King Charles XI of Sweden, the dowager queen Hedvig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp, and several other high state officials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of antisemitism in the United States</span>

Different opinions exist among historians regarding the extent of antisemitism in American history and how American antisemitism contrasted with its European counterpart. In contrast to the horrors of European history, John Higham states that in the United States "no decisive event, no deep crisis, no powerful social movement, no great individual is associated primarily with, or significant chiefly because of anti-Semitism." Accordingly, David A. Gerber concludes that antisemitism "has been a distinctly minor feature of the nation's historical development."

Antisemitism —prejudice, hatred of, or discrimination against Jews—has experienced a long history of expression since the days of ancient civilizations, with most of it having originated in the Christian and pre-Christian civilizations of Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antisemitism in the United States</span> Hatred towards the Jewish people within the US

Antisemitism has long existed in the United States. Most Jewish community relations agencies in the United States draw distinctions between antisemitism, which is measured in terms of attitudes and behaviors, and the security and status of American Jews, which are both measured by the occurrence of specific incidents.

Antisemitic incidents escalated worldwide in frequency and intensity during the Gaza War, and were widely considered to be a wave of reprisal attacks in response to the conflict.

Antisemitism in Canada is the manifestation of hostility, prejudice or discrimination against the Canadian Jewish people or Judaism as a religious, ethnic or racial group. This form of racism has affected Jews since Canada's Jewish community was established in the 18th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of violence against LGBT people in the United States</span>

The history of violence against LGBT people in the United States is made up of assaults on gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender individuals (LGBT), legal responses to such violence, and hate crime statistics in the United States of America. The people who are the targets of such violence are believed to violate heteronormative rules and they are also believed to contravene perceived protocols of gender and sexual roles. People who are perceived to be LGBT may also be targeted for violence. Violence can also occur between couples who are of the same sex, with statistics showing that violence among female same-sex couples is more common than it is among couples of the opposite sex, but male same-sex violence is less common.

Antisemitism is a growing problem in 21st-century Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pittsburgh synagogue shooting</span> 2018 massacre in Pennsylvania

The Pittsburgh synagogue shooting was an antisemitic terrorist attack that took place at the Tree of Life—Or L'Simcha Congregation synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. The congregation, along with New Light Congregation and Congregation Dor Hadash, which also worshipped in the building, was attacked during Shabbat morning services on October 27, 2018. The perpetrator killed eleven people and wounded six, including several Holocaust survivors. It was the deadliest attack on any Jewish community in the United States.

On the night of December 28, 2019, the seventh night of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, a masked man wielding a large knife or machete invaded the home of a Hasidic rabbi in Monsey, Rockland County, New York, where a Hanukkah party was underway, and began stabbing the guests. Five men were wounded, two of whom were hospitalized in critical condition. Party guests forced the assailant to flee by wielding chairs and a small table. Three months after the stabbing, the most severely injured stabbing victim, Rabbi Josef Neumann, aged 72, died of his wounds.

In 2018 and 2019, reports of antisemitism in the United States was reported to have increased compared to previous years according to statistics collected by both the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Anti-Defamation League. These statistics include both violent antisemitic attacks on Jews and cases of harassment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evan R. Bernstein</span> American nonprofit executive

For the Israeli former Olympic wrestler, see Evan Bernstein (athlete).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goyim Defense League</span> American antisemitic hate group

The Goyim Defense League (GDL) is an American neo-Nazi, antisemitic hate group and conspiracy theory network of individuals who are active on social media websites and operate an online video platform called GoyimTV. The GDL also performs banner drops, papering neighborhoods with flyers, and other stunts to harass Jews. The GDL emerged in 2018 and is led by the antisemitic provocateur Jon Minadeo II. The GDL is currently tracked by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a hate group.

Since 7 October 2023, numerous violent incidents prompted by the Hamas attack on Israel and the ensuing Israel–Hamas war have been reported worldwide. They have accompanied a sharp increase in global antisemitism and Islamophobia, as well as anti-Israeli sentiment and anti-Palestinian sentiment or broader anti-Arab sentiment. Other people and groups have also been targeted, such as the Sikhs, who are commonly mistaken to be Muslims by their attackers.

Following the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 and the outbreak of the Israel–Hamas war, there has been a surge of antisemitism around the world. Israeli Immigration Minister Ofir Sofer has stated that Israel is bracing to expect a large wave of Jews migrating to Israel due to the rising antisemitism around the world.

On April 20, 2022, Matt Greenman, a Jewish man, was assaulted and beaten in an antisemitic hate crime in New York City while watching a pro-Palestinian demonstration organized by pro-Palestinian group Within Our Lifetime. Saadah Masoud, one of the group's founders, pled guilty to the attack on Greenman and two other Jews and was sentenced to 18 months in prison in March 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Austin synagogue arson</span> 2021 antisemitic attack

On 31 October 2021, an arson attack at Congregation Beth Israel, a Reform Jewish synagogue in Austin, Texas, damaged the synagogue's front doors and stained glass windows, causing more than $250,000 in damage. Franklin Sechriest admitted to conducting the attack out of his hatred for Jews and was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison on 29 November 2023.

On the morning of October 8, 2000, the eve of Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish year, two Molotov cocktails were thrown, but did not ignite, at the door of the Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale (CSAIR) in the Bronx in New York City. Two Palestinian men were arrested and found guilty for the attack, and were the first suspects to be prosecuted under recently-enacted New York's Hate Crimes Act of 2000. Mazin Assi was found guilty on seven counts of weapons possession, harassment and attempted arson, along with hate crimes violations and received 15 years in prison. The getaway driver Mohammed Alfaqih was found guilty on one count of criminal mischief and sentenced to four years in prison.

References

  1. ↑ Cohen, Haley (May 25, 2021). "Violence against Jews after Israel-Gaza war reaches alarming heights". Jerusalem Post . Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Brenner, Marie (June 22, 2023). "Amid a Wave of Antisemitic Hate Crimes, a New York Unit Offers a Model of Resistance". Vanity Fair . Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  3. ↑ Tress, Luke (June 14, 2023). "Pro-Palestinian activist sentenced to 18 months for attack on Jewish man in New York". Times of Israel . Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  4. ↑ Kahana, Ariel (June 22, 2021). "'The golden age of American Jewry is over'". Israel Hayom . Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Shapiro, Emily (June 10, 2021). "Antisemitism surged across US during Gaza conflict, part of multi-year rise: Advocates". ABC News . Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  6. 1 2 "Arrests in Times Square melee over Israel; Jewish man beaten". Associated Press . May 21, 2021. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Joseph Borgen, Brutally Beaten By Group Of Suspects In Manhattan's Diamond District, Speaks Out: 'My Whole Face Felt Like It Was On Fire For Hours'". CBS News . May 24, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 Holcombe, Madeline (May 25, 2021). "The Jewish man who was the victim of a gang assault in New York says the level of hatred was troubling". CNN . Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  9. 1 2 Tress, Luke (November 22, 2023). "Assailant sentenced to 7 years for antisemitic attack on Joseph Borgen in 2021". New York Jewish Week . Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  10. 1 2 3 Henry, Jacob (April 26, 2023). "2 of Joey Borgen's attackers plead guilty on hate crime charges for 2021 beating". Jewish Telegraphic Agency . Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Nassau County leaders, advocates denounce plea deal offered to suspect in antisemitic attack". CBS News. January 19, 2023. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  12. ↑ "#EndJewHatred celebrates successful rally outside New York Supreme Court". Jewish News Syndicate . January 27, 2023. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  13. 1 2 "Guilty pleas: Attackers of Jewish man in New York face years behind bars". Jewish News Syndicate. October 2, 2023. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  14. ↑ Wagenheim, Mike (December 24, 2023). "Jewish victim of NY gang 'more than satisfied' with attacker's prison sentence". Jewish News Syndicate . Retrieved January 5, 2024.