At a 5:00 AM EDT press conference, Mayor Eric Adams announced a new task force to combat anti-Semitism in New York City, following a spate of attacks in Brooklyn and Manhattan.
The initiative, which includes increased NYPD presence in Jewish neighborhoods and community outreach programs, comes after a reported 15% rise in anti-Semitic incidents in 2025. Adams cited a recent assault in Williamsburg, where a Jewish man was attacked outside a synagogue, as a catalyst for the task force.
The announcement, first shared on X, drew mixed reactions: some praised the proactive measures, while others criticized the timing, noting it coincides with upcoming elections. The task force will partner with community leaders and schools to promote tolerance and monitor hate crimes. Governor Kathy Hochul pledged state funding to support the effort. This move follows similar initiatives by former Mayor Bill de Blasio, though Adams emphasized a “zero-tolerance” approach. Residents are hopeful but cautious, with many calling for broader measures to address all forms of hate in the city. Photo by Quinn Dombrowski from Berkeley, USA, Wikimedia commons.