Assault on Jew Wearing IDF Hoodie in Brooklyn Prompts Antisemitic Deluge on Social Media

A physical assault in Brooklyn last weekend in which a Jewish man wearing an Israel Defense Forces hoodie was punched in the face by an unknown assailant prompted a torrent of antisemitic responses by social media users.

The New York City Police Department (NYPD) said the Sunday incident — which occurred at a Foot Locker store in the Bay Ridge neighborhood — was being investigated as a hate crime, and New York Governor Kathy Hochul condemned it as “abhorrent and unacceptable,” tweeting, “Antisemitism & all hate has no home in New York.”

On at 12/26/21, at approx 1045 AM, a male, 21, was waiting for a store to open when an individual made anti-Jewish statements and punched him in his face multiple times before fleeing on foot on 86th St towards 4th Ave in Brooklyn. Info? DM us or @NYPDTips or ☎️1-800-577-TIPS pic.twitter.com/Szu8yLkbhy

— NYPD Hate Crimes (@NYPDHateCrimes) December 28, 2021

A sampling of the hateful replies made by commenters to a New York Post tweet on the story titled “Jewish man says he was slugged in Brooklyn for wearing Israeli military hoodie” included:

“Good whoever did it give him an award”

“and I’ll do it again”

“Not hard enough we gotta start beating the zionist outta them I fear”

“god’s work”

“whoever did this beautiful work dm me I owe you a kiss”

“I hope he’s in a ton of pain”

“love to see it”

“Ending the year on a good note”

“Find whoever did this to him and give him a medal”

“Shoulda hit him harder”

“harder next time inshallah”

“mannnn im so disappointed.. y’all should’ve shot him”

At a time of rising antisemitism worldwide, with Jewish communities facing elevated threat levels, such demonization of Jews and incitement to violence must not be tolerated. It is time for social media companies such as Twitter and Facebook to take concrete action to prevent their platforms from serving as venues for the unfiltered dissemination of hatred that endangers lives.