NEW YORK — Police departments in the New York area said they will step up their presence this weekend following social media posts circulating online referenced a so-called “National Hate Day” once morest the groups. Jews.
The New York Police said there would be “additional resources” at certain sensitive locations such as places of worship throughout the weekend, following online postings indicated there would be forms of protests on Saturday. The department added that there were no specific threats identified for New York City, but the increase in resources would be done out of an abundance of caution.
“We urge all New Yorkers to remain vigilant and if you see anything suspicious, please call 1-888-NYC-SAFE,” a police spokesperson said.
The addition of additional patrol cars was a relief to people in Brooklyn, including Mindy Lovi.
“We are all concerned regarding the threats. It’s all been going around on social media, so yeah, seeing them out there makes us feel safe,” the Midwood woman said.
Lakewood, New Jersey, police also said there was “no credible information to suggest that these threats will affect New Jersey,” but said they would still increase the number of officers on duty in marked and unmarked cars, to ensure the safety of the residents.
The social media posts had been shared by anti-Semitic groups, and the alleged planned protests were targeting Jewish communities, according to the Anti-Defamation League.
This weekend’s threat is vague, but Jewish congregations across the country are asking the faithful to remain vigilant.
“There has been a huge increase in anti-Semitic incidents, New York has the most and New Jersey is number 2, the numbers for 2021 were staggering and they are even higher for 2022,” Rabbi Marc Katz said.
Katz said that services heading into the weekend at Temple Ner Tamid in Bloomfield will continue as planned. The focus, he added, “will remain on Ukraine tonight.”
The Essex County congregation of more than 500 families fell victim to a possible arson attacker last month when a burning gasoline bottle failed to break through the reinforced glass of a synagogue door. Nobody was hurt.
The potential threat of protests and violence comes following a group of neo-Nazis harassed theatergoers as they lined up before a Broadway performance of “Parade” Tuesday night. An audience member posted video of the hate-filled rally outside the Bernard Jacobs Theater on West 45th Street and described the scary moments. Another person who tried to videotape the protesters reportedly had his phone torn off and thrown into the street.
Those who demonstrated chanted, carried banners and handed out fliers claiming the show glorifies pedophilia.
The protesters were targeting “Parade,” a musical revival regarding the true story of Leo Frank, a Jewish man lynched in 1915 following being wrongfully convicted of the rape and murder of a 13-year-old girl. A subsequent legal review confirmed that Frank had been wrongly accused.
“No one should miss the irony that these anti-Semitic extremists decided to protest a play detailing the true story of the lynching of an innocent Jewish man by an anti-Semitic mob and used it as an opportunity to spread conspiracy theories and hate,” he said. he said the Anti-Defamation League in a statement.
For one person in the audience, the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, the protesters gave her even more reason to support the production.
“I was going to get them anyway, but it’s also my way of protesting to say you can’t get me out of my own country,” said Nina Mogilnik. “It’s kind of hard to take.”
Tony Award winner Ben Platt stars in the production, saying in a video shared on Instagram that “it was definitely very ugly and scary, but a wonderful reminder of why we’re telling this story and how powerful art and theater can be.” “.
The show’s producers went on to say that “if there is any doubt regarding the urgency of telling this story at this point in history, the vileness that was displayed (Tuesday night) should leave it alone.”
