Suspect accused of assaulting a Jewish man in police-defunded NYC proclaims: 'I would do it again'

Screenshot from NY Post

Suspect out on bail for attacking Jewish man given hero’s welcome from other anti-Semitic groups

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NEW YORK CITY, NY- Over the last several months, there has been an increase in anti-Jewish hate crimes in New York City with the most recent one happening on Thursday, May 20th, when a 29-year-old Jewish man was beaten and assaulted by a group of people in Times Square.

In police-defunded New York City, one of the perpetrators, Waseem Awawdeh beat a Jewish man with a crutch and pepper-sprayed him causing the victim to sustain multiple minor injuries .

The Democrat-run city has already released him on bail and he was welcomed as a hero by other anti-semitic violent groups. One group tweeted:

“AND HE IS BACK OUT ON THE STREETS OF NEW YORK READY TO ATTACK MORE JEWS!!! IT IS OPEN SEASON ON JEWS IN NEW YORK! CC: @BilldeBlasio @NYGovCuomo @POTUS @CivilRights.”

Prior to Awawdeh’s release, the New York Post reported what Awawdeh told another jailer that he would do what he did again. According to a prosecutor at Awawdeh’s arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court, Awawdeh said:

“If I could do it again, I would do it again. I have no problem doing it again.”

If what the prosecutor stated is true, then this violent individual is already back out on the streets of New York City getting ready to attack another Jewish person. He has zero remorse for his actions.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) stated that this incident is now being investigated as a hate crime. Awawdeh has been charged with assault as a hate crime, gang assault, menacing, aggravated harassment as a hate crime, and criminal possession of a weapon.

Detectives are searching for as many as six additional suspects in connection with the violent incident. On Friday, May 21st, police released photos of five suspects sought in connection with the attack. The victim said in a statement:

“I have a concussion. I had an X-ray on my wrist. It’s not broken, but it’s messed up. Every time I move it, it’s in pain, probably sprained. I have bruises all over my body. I have a black eye. My face is banged up. I’m just sore all over my body. They were kicking me in my ribs, my stomach.”

The victim stated that the attack has now mad him rethink wearing his yarmulke in public in the future. It is unclear if this attack was a result of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and her anti-Jewish rhetoric.

There has been an increase in anti-semitic attacks as more prominent social media influencers, like Rep. AOC and their anti-Jewish rhetoric. After Israel defended itself against a terrorist attack, Rep. AOC and others have been upping their rhetoric, including accusing Israel of “war crimes.”

The victim of this recent hate crime is a resident of Nassau County on Long Island. Nassau County executive Laura Curran stated she was “appalled” by the attack. She said:

“We stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters and against vile anti-Semitism that will never find comfort in our communities. I have asked the Nassau County Police to continue to communicate with synagogues and yeshivas as well as other houses of worship, to ensure all of our residents are protected.”

Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) reportedly announced that he is directing the New York State Police Hate Crimes Task Force to offer assistance in the investigations of such attacks, saying, “justice needs to be served.”

The incident occurred amid dueling demonstrations over the deadly conflict between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian militant group ruling the Gaza Strip. Pro-Israel and pro-Palestine protesters both took to the streets of Midtown Manhattan.

A mutual cease-fire went into effect, but at times the two groups collided and fights broke out. Authorities stated that at least 26 people, 25 men and one woman, were arrested during the protests on various charges.

Some of the charges include obstructing governmental administration, resisting arrest, unlawful assembly, disorderly conduct and criminal possession of a weapon. Police said 17 summonses and seven desk appearance tickets were issued.

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Suspect accused of assaulting a Jewish man in police-defunded NYC proclaims: ‘I would do it again’

May 24th, 2021

NEW YORK CITY, NY – On Saturday, May 22nd, prosecutors stated that the Brooklyn man accused of beating a Jewish man in a hate attack in Midtown proclaimed from his jail cell that he would “do it again.”

The suspect, since identified as 23-year-old Waseem Awawdeh, was held on a $10,000 bail and reportedly told one of his jailers that he would “do it again.”

At his arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court, prosecutors stated that Awawdeh said:

“If I could do it again, I would do it again. I have no problem doing it again.”

Awawdeh is accused of beating Joseph Borgen, 29, with crutches and punching, kicking, and pepper-spraying him. Prosecutors stated that the attack was unprovoked and that Borgen was walking near Broadway and West 49th Street when Awawdeh “jumped and attacked him.”

According to authorities, Awawdeh has at least one open case in Brooklyn for allegedly speeding and running a red light in March. He is now being charged with assault as a hate crime, gang assault, menacing, aggravated harassment as a hate crime, and criminal possession of a weapon.

The Manhattan assistant district attorney told Judge Kathryn Peak that the Midtown attack was a hate crime. The prosecutor added that Awawdeh called Borgen a “dirty Jew” and said “(expletive) Israel. Hamas is going to kill all of you.”

According to Awawdeh’s attorney April White-Small of New York County Defenders, he is enrolled in college and is not a flight risk. Awawdeh did not enter a plea at the arraignment.

The New York Post reported that friends of Awawdeh, who refused to give their names, claimed that Awawdeh was attacked first.

One of the friends claimed:

“They picked somebody that was weak, that was on crutches.”

However, the New York Police Department (NYPD) released photos of four other men who are all wanted in connected with the attack on Borgen.

Borgen, an accountant who lives on the Upper East Side, stated:

“I felt a liquid being poured on my face and at first I thought I was getting urinated on. But, it turned 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.

“I have a concussion. I had an X-ray on my wrist. It’s not broken, but it’s messed up. Every time I move it, it’s in pain, probably sprained. I have bruises all over my body. I have a black eye. My face is banged up. I’m just sore all over my body. They were kicked me in my ribs, my stomach.”

Borgen said that the attack has made him rethink wearing his yarmulke in public in the future. Anyone with information on the four other suspects in the Midtown assault can call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-tips or go to the Crime Stoppers website.

In an unrelated event back in April, an Asian dad was slugged in the face in Lower Manhattan as his assailant yelled, “dumb (expletive) (expletive)!” in front of the victim’s two young children.

The New York Post reported that the victim, who is 33 years old, had been driving with his children near Canal Street and Cortlandt Alley shortly after 8 p.m. when he stopped his car to care for his son who became sick.

That is when the unidentified assailant got out of his own car, walked up, yelled the slur, told the victim to move his car, and punched the window of the vehicle, along with the victim. Police stated that the attacker then returned to his gray Acura and drove off.

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Police-defunded New York City: Pro-Palestinian protesters launch explosives, other attacks on Jews and Israel supporters

May 23rd, 2021

NEW YORK CITY, NY- Despite the fact that Israel and Hamas militants agreed to a cease-fire, Pro-Palestinian protesters and Pro-Israel activists attacked each other on the streets of New York City on Thursday, May 20th. In one such altercation, an explosive device went off in the City’s Diamond District. 

As shown on videos being circulated around social media, a device exploded after being thrown at a crowd of people on a midtown Manhattan sidewalk. The incident took place around 6:00pm near 37 west and 47th street. 

The New York Police Department told Fox News that somebody had thrown two commercial fireworks from a car, and one person suffered minor burns. 

The NYPD’s Arson Investigation Squad is said to be looking into the incident. 

On Saturday, May 22, the NYPD posted a picture of the suspect on Twitter, with a post that read:

“Wanted for Assault (Hate Crime): On Thursday 5/20 at 6:00 pm, near 37 West and 47 Street, the below individual threw an explosive device from the back of a pickup truck which was detonated causing burns to a 55-year-old woman.”

Other videos posted by independent journalist Leeroy Johnson showed multiple fights breaking out in the middle of Times Square as police tried to dispel the scuffles, Fox News reported. 

On Friday, an NYPD spokesperson said that more than two dozen people were arrested in the clashes, and a gang assault against a Jewish man was under investigation as a hate crime, Associated Press reported.

The video of that incident showed a group of attackers, presumed to be part of the pro-Palestinian demonstrations, attacking a man on the ground, who is presumed to be Jewish.

The video shows some people standing there continuously kicking and hitting the man who is curled up on the floor, while others run in, kick or punch him, and run off like cowards, until police eventually intervened. 

On Thursday night, the NYPD tweeted about the incident, saying:

“The Hate Crime Task Force is investigating a gang assault of a Jewish man in Times Square,” 

Another group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators carrying Palestinian flags were captured on video attacking a group of diners on Thursday, American Military News reported.

Mayor Bill de Blasio weighed in on the situation on WNYC public radio, saying:

“It’s absolutely disgusting and unacceptable,” 

He continued:

“We 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 folks, at least one person.”

Pro-Palestinian protesters have marched in America’s biggest cities for the last week and a half. Last Tuesday, thousands of protesters shut down traffic as they marched down 42nd Street in Manhattan, Fox News reported.

Violence escalated around Israel at the beginning of last week, with Hamas firing a reported 4,000 rockets and the Israeli air force launching airstrikes throughout the Gaza Strip. 

On Thursday, a peace deal was announced between Israel and Hamas that Hamas said would take effect at 2 a.m. Friday, however that did not stop the violent attacks that plagued the streets of New York just hours after.  

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About The Author

Jenna Curren, Ed.D., is an assistant professor in criminal justice studies. As chair of a CJ advisory board, Jenna actively partners with members of the community to integrate current students into internships and prospective law enforcement careers. Prior to working in academics, Jenna held various custody and treatment positions and was a lieutenant for the CT Department of Correction. Throughout her tenure, she supervised men, women, youth and mental health offenders. A C.E.R.T and honor guard member, as well as a training officer, Jenna has 10 years of experience in the criminal justice and human services fields.

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