On May 20, 2021, several men assaulted Jews at a pro-Israel protest near Times Square. Shouting ‘You dirty Jew, f— Israel, go back to your country,’ the anti-“Zionist” assailants beat 29-year old Joseph Borgen with fists, kicks, and crutches. Borgen was also pepper-sprayed in the eyes, blinding him for several hours. Another assailant threw fireworks, which exploded and burned a 55-year old woman.
At least five people were arrested, four adults (Waseem Awawdeh, Faisal Elezzi, Mahmoud Musa, and Mohammed Othaman) and a minor (K.A.). Awawdeh was reportedly the assailant who beat Borgen with crutches. Othaman was allegedly the one who hurled the fireworks that exploded.
Awawdeh, Elezzi, Musa, and Othaman were all charged, but the cases remain in limbo. A hearing was held December 8. According to Kay from the New York District Attorney’s Office media department, the cases are awaiting trial. The next hearing date is January 26, 2023, and the delay is to complete discovery. Asked whether trial will actually take place on that date, Kay responded frankly, “Likely not that date because of the backlog,” but shortly thereafter.
The minor was reportedly charged as a juvenile in a New York County court. The status of his case is unknown.
Awawdeh was rearrested on a criminal mischief/property damage charge for an incident that happened November 10, 2022, in Brooklyn. Othaman appears to have been rearrested (under the name Mohammad Othman) for reckless endangerment and related charges that arose September 29, 2022, in Staten Island. Despite these apparent release violations, bail was continued at the December 8 hearing(s).
A year after the assault, Borgen filed a federal civil lawsuit charging Awawdeh, Elezzi, Musa, Othaman (spelling the name Othman, as NYPD did in a tweet announcing his arrest), and K.A. with violating his civil rights, assault, battery, and other claims. The case has been stayed, pending resolution of the criminal cases. If they ever are.
Now that FBI Director Christopher Wray has observed that the Jewish community is “getting it from all sides,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams somberly noted that antisemitism has become not just normalized, but popular, and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff is feeling Jews’ pain – maybe Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg could pick up the pace a little? Or at least seek to revoke bail for Awawdeh and Othaman, given their rearrests?CLICK HERE FOR FULL VERSION OF THIS STORY
