Brooklyn, NY – The NYPD confirmed today that an assault against an Orthodox Jewish student that took place Wednesday night in a Brooklyn college is being investigated as a hate crime.
The incident took place at 7:40 PM when an unidentified man bumped into a student in a hallway of the AB1 science building at Medgar Evans College in Crown Heights.
The victim was punched twice in the face with a closed fist and once in the stomach by the assailant who said, “I don’t like white boys. Leave the school, you Jew.”
A female Muslim student who was also in the hallway shouted at the attacker and called for campus security as the assault was taking place.
The suspect, who was described as a 6 foot tall black man weighing approximately 225 pounds, fled the scene on foot through the building’s main entrance.
The victim, who suffered pain and redness to the injured areas, refused on site medical attention.
Glen Caplin, a spokesperson for Medgar Evers, said that campus personnel stayed with the victim after the assault and that it is unknown if the suspect is a student at the college.
The assault is thought to be the first such incident to take place at the school and college president Dr. Rudolph Crew condemned the assault, noting that even a rare event of violence and ignorance is one too many.
“To attack someone because of his or her race or religious beliefs is appalling,” said Dr. Crew in a written statement. “I want to make it clear that we have zero tolerance for this type of behavior and we will do everything in our power to ensure the assailant is found and held fully accountable for these hateful actions.”
Borough President Eric Adams expressed his conviction that yesterday’s violence would be a catalyst for even greater tolerance and solidarity at Medgar Evers.
“President Crew and I are united in our commitment to promoting diversity and the values that unite us as One Brooklyn,” said Adams. “We will work together to address this isolated incident of ignorance, with confidence that the campus community will grow stronger in the face of hatred.”
“The fact that a Muslim woman came to the defense of an Orthodox Jewish man is a true reflection of the values that permeate this great institution,” added Dr. Crew.
