Last night, Crown Heights was the scene of an unbelievable mob-like protest as hundreds of Jewish residents gathered to protect their neighborhood and the Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway from a pro-Palestinian protest.
The demonstration was led by a group tied to Within Our Lifetime. It called for supporters to “flood the streets” to oppose Zionism and demand a “free Palestine.” The wording, which mirrored Hamas’s “Al Aqsa Flood” attack in October 2023, was a clear threat to Jewish safety.
The trouble started brewing after Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir visited the Chabad headquarters on April 24. That day, pro-Palestinian protesters showed up, chanting phrases like “Resistance is justified” and clashing with Jewish counter protesters. A video from that night went viral, showing a group of Orthodox Jewish men chanting “Death to Arabs” and attacking a woman they mistook for a protester. The incident drew sharp criticism, though many in the Jewish community felt it was a reaction to ongoing hostility. Police arrested six people, charging one with assault.
Yesterday (Monday), fears of more trouble spiked after social media posts spread, including one from someone claiming ties to Black Lives Matter who vowed “war” against Jews in the area. Rabbi Yaacov Behrman, a local leader, called the planned protest “a blatant attempt to scare and provoke” Jews in their own neighborhood. In response, hundreds of residents hit the streets to defend their synagogue and homes. “We won’t start a fight, but we’ll protect what’s ours,” said Eyal Yakoby, a vocal figure on X, capturing the mood of the community.
