A person accused in a violent antisemitic assault in Brooklyn is heading to trial after rejecting a plea deal for allegedly punching a Jewish man in the face for sporting an Israeli navy sweatshirt.
“I was assaulted for being Jewish wearing this exact same sweater,” Blake Zavadsky mentioned Wednesday, sporting the identical Israeli Protection Forces hoodie he calls an emblem of delight.
However it additionally serves as a reminder of what occurred to him again in Dec. 2021
Zadavsky was strolling in Bay Ridge when a person later recognized by police as Suleiman Othman, of Staten Island, demanded that he take off the pro-Israel hoodie. When Zavadksy refused, he was crushed, he mentioned.
“Punched me twice in the face, he verbally assaulted me called me a ‘dirty Jew,'” Zadavsky mentioned.
Othman is charged with third-degree assault as a hate crime. Earlier than Othman confronted a choose in Brooklyn Wednesday morning, native Jewish leaders held a rally to sentence the rise in antisemitic assaults.
NYPD information reveals hate crimes in opposition to Jewish individuals jumped by 125 p.c in Nov. 2022 in comparison with the 12 months earlier than.
“People I talk to tell me they take their yarmulke off when they go into Manhattan. What in God’s name is going on?” requested New York Assemblyman Dov Hikind. “There needs to be a war on hate, not BS talk!”
Gus Rosendale experiences.
NYC Councilmember Inna Vernikov, whose district is in Brooklyn, mentioned at a rally that they have been there to ensure the choose wouldn’t let Othman go free.
Cameras weren’t allowed contained in the courtroom for Othman’s listening to. The Brooklyn district legal professional provided Othman a plea deal: Six months in jail and 5 years of probation. He rejected it, and can go to trial.
Othman mentioned nothing when he left the courtroom. As for Zadavasky, he’s ready for his likelihood to take the stand.
“I’m definitely prepared for a trial. I’m going to come with all my force. And hopefully there will be a difference,” Zadavsky mentioned.
Othman’s subsequent courtroom date is Feb. 14.