On Wednesday, October 30, Stephen Zeffren of Teaneck was walking on the Upper East Side of Manhattan when he was physically attacked for being Jewish, according to CBS News. The incident is currently being investigated as a hate crime by the NYPD, as Zeffren reported that the assailant spat on him and called him a “dirty Jew,” and then proceeded to punch him in the face.
Zeffren — who was wearing a yarmulke at the time — was leaving Ouri’s Market on Third Avenue and 67th Street when a man began harassing him. “He said, ‘Oh, you want to come chase after me?’ And I just continued looking down, just trying to mind my own business,” Zeffren told CBS. “Before I know it he sucker punches me in the face.”
He reported that his ear was bleeding, but feels lucky that it wasn’t worse.
Zeffren says his ear was bleeding, but he feels lucky his injuries weren’t worse. “It’s very sad that the rise of antisemitism has just been so rampant now…[but] I won’t be scared to come into the city. I’ll never be scared. I’m proud of who I am,” he said.
