Assailant 28-year-old Steven Jorge was said to have yelled an anti-Semitic comment before punching the 65-year-old man Monday. NYC police department received a call Monday morning after the victim fell to the ground, treated at the scene. Jorge struck the victim in the face, causing him to fall, then continued to kick him while he was on the ground, the victim told police.
The founder of Americans Against Anti-Semitism, Dov Hikind, said he spoke to the victim, who identifies as an Orthodox Jew and was wearing a kippah, or religious cap, at the time of the attack. “The victim of this crime is in total shock and disbelief,” Hikind said in a statement. “He is traumatized and will live forever with this wanton attack.” Both New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo also condemned the attacks.