Jewish students express safety concerns to NYC officials

MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11) — Jewish students in New York told Mayor Adams they do not necessarily feel safe as they return to school this year.

Mayor Eric Adams, the NYPD, and other local leaders including Congressman Ritchie Torres of the Bronx got the feedback from those students while holding an intimate roundtable discussion.

The big concern communicated by Jewish students is essentially pro-Palestinian protests that cross the line into harassment and intimidation.

One story from early September took up a good portion of the meeting. Pro-Palestinian protesters made it difficult for new Jewish students of Baruch College to enjoy a meal together had a kosher restaurant by blocking the entryway and banging on the windows.

“These students and organizations feel more emboldened and do their protest this year and to intimidate students because of the fact action was not taken last year,” Aidan Herzlinger, a Baruch sophomore said.

“If you’re following students to a kosher restaurant and blocking the door, and slamming on the doors, and hurling insults at the Jewish students, that is harassment,” Torres said.

“There should be zero tolerance for this action,” Adams said of the harassment of Jewish students.

Adams said his team has had words with college presidents heading into this school year imploring them to request the NYPD get involved sooner with protests. Colleges must explicitly invite the NYPD to help with protests unless there is an imminent threat.

Adams was also frank with the students saying he had to balance free speech with ensuring their absolute right to a safe education.

“When people are able to say they are Hamas, we may hate that, but that’s protected speech in this country,” Adams said. “We have to find the balance, and make sure we raise our voices to counter the hate that we are seeing.”

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