The Boro Park community was first up in arms after learning that the Muslim man who attacked an elderly Hasidic Jewish man would not be charged with a hate crime, an outrageous and unexplained decision by Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez.

The community was further outraged to learn that the suspect was released on bail – and a mere $15,000.

Adding insult to injury, the judge who made the bail decision is actually a member of the Boro Park Hasidic community, Judge (Mrs.) Ruchie Freier, of “Ezras Nashim” fame.

The suspect, Farrukh Afzal, 37, of Staten Island, has 8 prior arrests.

As reported on YWN, Afzal reportedly shouted “Allah, Allah”, said he wanted to “kill all Jews” and made references to ‘Israel’ while viciously beating 62-year-old R’ Lipa Schwartz on Sunday.

The attack appeared to be unprovoked (not that anything could ever justify such a heinous act). Schwartz said he feared for his life during the attack: “I’m telling you if he had a knife he would stab me right on the place. No doubt,” Schwartz said.

Furthermore, video footage appeared to show Afzal switch lanes and nearly hit ANOTHER Jewish pedestrian, then blow a red light as he sped down 13th Ave enroute to 46th street where he viciously beat Schwartz.

FOOTAGE OF ASSAULT IN VIDEO BELOW – VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED

Freier was sworn in on Dec. 22, 2016 and took the bench on Jan. 3, 2017. She was elected as a civil court judge, but ended up being assigned to criminal court by the Office of Court Administration. At the time she told the media she uses her religious values and faith as a guiding force in her decisions from the bench.

“It doesn’t mean being soft on crime. It means being an understanding judge,” she said. “You have somebody and you can impress upon them, ‘You’re responsible for your actions.'”

[AUDIO: Michael Savage Slams NYC Mayor Deblasio For BP Assault; “Why Do Jews Vote Democratic?! It’s Suicidal”]

[MAILBAG: Outraged That Brooklyn D.A. Not Charging Boro Park Attacker With Hate Crime]

Hate has no place in New York. I am directing the @NYSPolice Hate Crimes Unit to monitor these anti-Semitic incidents as well as all acts of bias and work with local law enforcement to ensure those responsible are held to account.https://t.co/TzSYMajaJi — Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) October 17, 2018

Has NYC Mayor Bill DeBlasio condemned either attack? Not to our knowledge…

YEGER BLASTS SOME HATERS:

Meanwhile, NYC Councilman Kalman Yeger was forced to defend calling the criminal who randomly assaulted a Jewish man in Crown Heights an “animal”.

Yeger had originally tweeted “The animal who viciously attacked our neighbor in Crown Heights was immediately apprehended and charged with multiple felonies. Thanks to @ShomrimCH for catching the thug, and @BrooklynDA for taking all these attacks seriously”

The tweet prompted this response from Liena Zagare, publisher of a blog called the Bklyner: “@KalmanYeger – I was wondering what you have to say to the black residents of your district, and borough at large, about using “animal” in the tweet below. Also – it was another black man who apprehended the dude, not Shomrim, from what I understand. Txs. Liena”

Yeger fired back: “Nice try. I was being kind. Animals don’t attack unprovoked. I think anyone who viciously attacks another human being with a stick in the manner seen on the video can very generously be called an animal. I don’t see color here. It’s sad that you do.”

Errol Louis, host of “Inside City Call on NY1”, immediately tweeted: “Thanks for the dehumanizing language and blind rage, Kalman. Very useful and just what Crown Heights needs. See you at the next riot.”

To which Yeger responded: “What would YOU call him, Errol? What’s the right word? Educate me.”

Louis fired back: “Name-calling isn’t my job, and definitely not yours. Being the angriest guy in the room is easy; it’s what every cheap demagogue with a soapbox did for years leading up to August 1991. I hope your vision of public service includes something better.”

Yeger concluded the back-and-forth by quoting Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams who also termed a suspect in an unprovoked hate-assault an “animal”.

Nice try. I was being kind. Animals don’t attack unprovoked. I think anyone who viciously attacks another human being with a stick in the manner seen on the video can very generously be called an animal. I don’t see color here. It’s sad that you do. https://t.co/HS2NfTYux7 — Kalman Yeger (@KalmanYeger) October 18, 2018

Thanks for the dehumanizing language and blind rage, Kalman. Very useful and just what Crown Heights needs. See you at the next riot. https://t.co/5ZtZ4LIzBE — Errol Louis (@errollouis) October 18, 2018

Name-calling isn’t my job, and definitely not yours. Being the angriest guy in the room is easy; it’s what every cheap demagogue with a soapbox did for years leading up to August 1991. I hope your vision of public service includes something better. https://t.co/ggvgEvqdkv — Errol Louis (@errollouis) October 18, 2018

Thank you to our incredible Borough President @BPEricAdams for convening this important unity conference and for your powerful and truthful words! https://t.co/9ZFHhdWyue pic.twitter.com/Pg1O79Li6s — Kalman Yeger (@KalmanYeger) October 19, 2018

At a press conference on Wednesday morning in front of One Police Plaza, many elected officials and community activists denounced the recent anti-Semitic assaults in Brooklyn and outlined plans to prevent future bias incidents.

Councilman Chaim Deutsch was joined by Councilmembers Barry Grodenchik and Jumaane Williams, as well as representatives from the offices of Congressmember Yvette Clarke, Council Speaker Corey Johnson, Public Advocate Letitia James, Comptroller Scott Stringer, and Councilmember Alicka Ampry-Samuel. Others in attendance included Imam Ahmed Ali Uzir of Iqra Masjid Brooklyn; Rabbi Eli Cohen of the JCC of Crown Heights; Rabbi Chaim David Zweibel of Agudath Israel of America; Alexander Rosemberg, deputy regional director at the ADL; Sam Tsang and Lina Chen, Asian community activists; Josh Mehlman of the Flatbush Jewish Community Coalition; David Pollack of the Jewish Community Relations Council – NY; Pervez Siddiqui, Director of the Apna Brooklyn Community Center; Avi Posnick, Managing Director for StandWithUs Northeast; members of Boro Park, Crown Heights, and Flatbush Shomrim, and community leaders from across New York City’s diverse cultures.

Deutsch led the press conference by first calling for the attacker in the Boro Park case to be charged with a hate crime, similar to the perpetrator in the Crown Heights incident. Deutsch stated, “It’s hard to believe that a violent and unprovoked attack in broad daylight against someone who appeared obviously Jewish could be motivated by anything other than baseless hatred. I have yet to see any evidence that demonstrates an alternate motive for the assault in Boro Park. In a situation like this when a community is on edge and fearful, it is important for officials in leadership roles to be as transparent as possible with residents. Even while an investigation is ongoing, communication between law enforcement, local leaders, and residents can go a long way towards making a community feel more secure.”

Deutsch also announced his plan to introduce two new bills into the New York City Council. The first bill would require the five New York City District Attorneys to report to the Council on the motives of hate crime perpetrators. Deutsch explained, “It’s important to distinguish between a youthful indiscretion and a violent act motivated by deep-set hatred. Access to information about the intent of these crimes would aid the City in better addressing the root of prejudice, instead of simply reacting to crimes after they occur.” Deutsch is also introducing a bill that would direct the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force to initiate an educational unit, particularly to educate young people across the City about the impact of hateful symbols and internalized bigotry.

(Charles Gross – YWN)