'The Mayor Says You Jews Are Getting Us All Sick': NYC Couple Cite de Blasio During Violent Assault

[MosheFeingold]

The Algemeiner
May 11, 2020 4:28 pm/18 Iyyar 5780
By: Ben Cohen

A married couple who were arrested in Brooklyn after they attacked a group of Hasidic Jews in a bid to rip off their coronavirus protection masks reportedly cited New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio as justification during the assault. The attack occurred on Sunday night in the Williamsburg section of the borough. Paulo Pinho, 35, and wife, Clelia Pinho, 46, jumped out of their vehicle at Bedford Ave. and Ross St. where they confronted the three male victims, police said.

“You Jews are getting us all sick,” the couple yelled at a trio of men, according to police sources quoted by the New York Daily News on Monday, before adding: “The mayor says you Jews are the reason we’re getting sick.” New York Mayor de Blasio sparked anger among Jewish leaders at the end of April for singling out “the Jewish community” in a tweet condemning the alleged violation of coronavirus distancing restrictions at the public funeral of the late Rabbi Chaim Mertz.

Jonathan Greenblatt — head of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) — responded to the mayor by telling him that “generalizing against the whole population is outrageous especially when so many are scapegoating Jews.” The Pinho couple combined their verbal abuse with a physical assault against the three men, with Clelia Pinho falling down and breaking her arm as she attempted to rip off their masks. The couple were held at the scene by members of the Shomrim communal security agency until police arrived to take them into custody.

Excerpted. more here: https://www.algemeiner.com/2020/05/11/the-mayor-says-you-jews-are-getting-us-all-sick-nyc-couple-cite-de-blasio-during-violent-assault-on-brooklyn-hasidim/?fbclid=IwAR1RUGzQUS3Z-6jGNpLi2aTh-nON8q0Y4WzM8MH3pH_3_jwCa2TmjfM6sa0

[still_one]

1. It isn't de Blasio. These anti Semites are just using that as an excuse to propagate their hate

[MosheFeingold]

3. Of course you are correct

But that's also the same excuse Trump gives when he says something stupid.

Haters gonna hate, right?

[still_one]

4. We are on the same page Moshe

[karynnj]

7. I would need to actually see the Dr Blasio tweet in the context of other tweets and statements

If the tweet was specific to that large funeral that did defy the social distancing recommendations AND there were other tweets on other similarly large gatherings, then I do not see a problem with Dr Blasio tweeting that this was not wise. Calling for people to follow the medical guidance makes sense.

The fact is that there were articles in the Jewish media, both here and in Israel, that expressed concern that Hasidic communities in the US and in Israel were facing cultural issues with guidance on social distancing. Here, what could be pointed out was that the victims WERE following the social distancing and mask guidance.

My daughter lived in one of those areas of Brooklyn while finishing her PHD last year. This year she is a visiting associate professor far away from there. If she were still there, I personally would be MORE concerned with the Hasids gathering for that funeral than with Dr Blasio calling them out.

[MosheFeingold]

8. Herr DeBlasio's tweet is not hard to find

But I will leave you this gem from the NYPD in response to DeBlasio:

"The grand rabbi from Williamsburg passed away. The community followed all guidance & wore masks. The Shomrim was there giving out masks if they saw somebody on the street with out a mask. They did an excellent job. The only issue is your incompetent and targeted people of faith."

[Behind the Aegis]

12. This is what I was talking about when this came up before.

Politicians really have to remember when they speak, do so keeping the lowest common denominator in mind without being completely devoid of intelligence. It is a fine line to be sure, but this why more than a few of us were taken aback by his statement.

[padah513]

2. She fell and broke her arm

Karma

[still_one]

5. +++

[MosheFeingold]

6. I have to admit I was amused by that

Given the Shomrim (basically civilian volunteer guards) have a high overlap with the burly (and very unfriendly) Hasids one sees with suitcases handcuffed to their wrists in the Diamond District, my initial reaction was she had some assistance breaking her bone, but I'm sure that would have made the story, if it was the case.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

9. I don't understand anti-semitism any better than I understand racism.

No one is born with hatred in their hearts. It takes a conscious, dedicated effort to get to that point. And why ? For what ? It benefits a man nothing to carry hatred in their minds. Mentally, it distorts and warps your view of life. Physically, it makes your body prone to illness and hypertension. Emotionally, it depresses the natural urges of people to form communities.

What possible utility is gained from such self-induced mental illness ?

I will never understand these people.

Maybe I'm just too old for this world. I was born in simpler times, to British parents, who lived through more difficult times than we have been faced with since the end of WWII.

Maybe I should change my 'Handle" to The Relic.

[saidsimplesimon]

10. I am also a "Relic".

Hate is an ugly cancer needing to be excised from the body politic and society, imo.

(I practice no organized religion, nor claim any enlightenment.)

[Behind the Aegis]

11. No doubt there will be those from our community willing to "kosher" this event.

Never fails.

[MosheFeingold]

13. And intentionally misleading photos

For the tricks in action, see this:

https://nyheder.tv2.dk/samfund/2020-04-26-hvor-taet-er-folk-paa-hinanden-disse-billeder-er-taget-samtidig-men-viser-to

Basically, they used telephoto lenses and certain angles to make a crowd where there is none.

(Apologies for the non-English link, but the pictures tell the story.)