======================================================================== ANTI-SEMITIC INCIDENT LOG: Fair Lawn ======================================================================== "You have stressed the importance of zero-tolerance for hate, as being essential to communities working together. Do you really feel Fair Lawn has a problem with bias crime and incidents?" There is no doubt about it. Fair Lawn is certainly a fine town, and I am glad my family lives here. However, we have had problem with anti-Semitism for decades. These actions include verbal assaults, physical assaults and other acts of intimidation (see below Anti-Semitic Acts in Fair Lawn). These problems must be fixed or they will get worse. Moreover, the population of Fair Lawn has changed dramatically in the last 30 years. We now have many Russians, Israelis, Indians, Seiks and Asians. We need to determine to what extent our native population has been getting along these newcomers. We need to look out for one another, and religious, racial and ethnic bigotry will lead to the downfall of us all. We need to avoid the problem of a neighbor seeing a guy with a gas tank pouring gasoline on my synagogue but saying "Those Jews deserve it" and not reporting this guy to the authorities. We also want to avoid a situation in which a Jew sees a suspicious stranger in a non-Jew's store, but walks away and says "This guy would never help me." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Introduction ------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a log of Anti-Semitic acts that have taken place in Fair Lawn. The items on this list have either been experienced by me personally or a member of my family, or have been reported to me directly by the victim(s). Please report to me every unfortunate incident that takes place, whether it is in the form of verbal or physical harassment, and whether it takes place on the street, in a school, in a park or in a place of business. Also inform me of bias incidents against people of other faiths/nationalities/color. This information is vital in assessing the extent of the problem and developing solutions. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Morlot Avenue near Shomrei Torah Bias Harrassment ------------------------------------------------------------------------ September Several Jewish residents were cursed with anti-Semitic language as they walked in the street during the High Holy Days. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Chittenden/Plymouth area Hate graffitti ------------------------------------------------------------------------ July A number of Jewish homes in Fair Lawn were vandalized and defaced with graffiti including the symbol "666".That symbol is often used by white supremacist hate groups ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 17th Street Steet Harrassment ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5/21 On Shabbat afternoon, at about 6pm, we were walking home from the park. We were on 17th street. After we crossed Morlot, a Ford Escort - late 1990's model or 2000 - approached us from the opposite direction. Two teenage boys were in it, and they did both something unbelievable. The driver yelled at me "F***ing Jew" and actually spat at me! The passenger then raised his hand and "flipped me off". I was extremely shaken when I arrived home ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 17th Street Steet Harrassment ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5/17 Yesterday, as it was a nice day, we walked to Shomrei Torah to pick up our daughter from school. Our son was in a toddler harness. As we were walking on Morlot, a lawn service truck (I have the name) turned from westbound Morlot onto 17th street. We had just crossed 17th street. As he turned, the driver yelled out “F****ing Jews! That is a boy not a dog!” Obviously the F****ing Jews part was extraneous to his real comment, just very sad that he felt he had to comment at all. I don’t think that tolerance of any differences is widely tolerated. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Morlet Avenue in front of Shomre Torah Steet Harrassment ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5/16 Crossing Morlot after Maariv, I was in the middle of the street and a car rushed by and screamed something that I could not tell what they said. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bellaire Avenue verbal harrassment ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5/5 I was walking home for Shul and this guy in a grey van drvies past me. He yells at me -something about Jews. Is it always the same guys that do this? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Morlot Avenue and Lyn crest Avenue verbal harrassment ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4/15 On Shabbat I was in the Lyncrest area and a car passed by and someone yelled "(something) Jewish" in a very mocking way. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Morlot Avenue and River Road verbal harrassment ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4/13 On the first day of Pesach I was taking a nice little walk. At about 5pm I was at the light of Morlot Avenue and River Road. A jeep passed by and someone yelled "F-You" at me. Either they were very rotten people, or they did it because I was visibly a Jew. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Morlot Avenue near Plaza Road verbal harrassment ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3/11 I was walking along Morlot Avenue towards Plaza Road. I passed some men doing construction work and said hello to them. When I passed the property I heard one of them say behind my back, "I should have hit him with the hammer". Since I was dressed in my black hat and suit on Shabbat, I took it as something to do with my being Jewish. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Morlot Avenue verbal harrassment ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/28 I was walking with my young nephew to Shul on Morlot Avenue. A car with teens passes us and this guy gives us the middle figure. Very nice to have on a Shabbat morning. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ River Road verbal harrassment ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10/31 I was walking on River Road, october 31, around 9:00 pm. I was a little past Dunkin Donuts when I saw a group of teenagers. They were all dressed in costumes. One was a girl. I said "Hello, shalom all". They said hello back. Then quite a ways past, about 200 yards past, almost by around the Indian or Muslim (middle eastern) grocery store on River Road. They start screaming "a...hole Jew and f...ing Jew! hitler! heil hitler!" and then they started saying shalom in a very mocking way at the same time, they were walking away from me. Then after they said all that, I turned to them and said, "This is your reaction to hello and peace?" and they just walked away. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summit Avenue verbal harrassment ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10/25 I was walking with the kids (crossing Summit at Morlot), halfway through the intersection (we were walking somewhat slow as my young son was walking, not in the stroller) a woman (in her 60's, I'd guess) was driving westbound on Morlot, turning onto Summit. She came within about 10 inches of hitting us!! When I looked at her (I was upset!), she yelled out "Why are you F... Jews walking in the middle of the street?" I said I was walking with my children and she should have been more careful. She reiterated the Jewish slams and I eventually just walked away. I shamed myself by not looking at the make of the car or the license plate.. I was just too upset with the situation, for the kids, walking in the dark through the rain... etc. I don't think this woman was looking for Jews to hit, or slander, but she did take advantage of the situation to make her opinions known. I don't have enough information to go to the police, but thought that you might want to keep this in the log. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Morlot Avenue in front of Shomrei Torah thrown objects ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10/25 I was on the sidewalk, turning onto the walk that goes up to the front door of the Shul. All of a sudden this car comes by and somebody hurls pennies at me. They hit me, but my back was turned and with my raincoat on, I could not turn quickly enough to get a clear view of the car. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fair Lawn High School anti-Semitic graffiti ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9/4 From Det. Bastinck: Forcible Entry/Criminal Mischief- Fair Lawn Detectives investigated an incident of Forced entry the Fair Lawn High School Sasso field press box. According to the report actors gained entry by breaking the entry door. Once inside the press box the juvenile actors wrote on the walls with magic marker. Detective Corcoran investigated and revealed that three Fair Lawn juveniles were responsible for writing bias/ anti Semitic statements on the walls. More damage was found to the tent by the snack stand as well as the Recreation construction site. Charges pending against four juveniles who will be scheduled for Superior Court in Hackensack. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Morlot Avenue verbal harrassment ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8/17 Last nite, (Wed), after a meeting at the shul, a friend and I were standing in front of building @ 11:45pm. A car with about 3 or 4 people (boys - late teens, i think) in a top-down convertible, drove down Burke Pl. to make a right on Morlot. As they turned, they saw us standing there, and yelled (Im pretty sure), Faggots ! Zeig Heil !!. Then drove off towards River Road. I had to drive across town afterwards to drop something off, and am pretty sure I saw them driving around town. I have the license plate # of that car, with about 80% certainty that it was those kids. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Morlot Avenue verbal harrassment ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8/12 "We were walking home from Shul on Friday night. On Morlot Avenue near Lyncrest, a car drives by and this guy yell "---- you" at us". ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bellair Avenue verbal harrassment ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7/29 I was walking home from the Shul Beit Medrash program on Wednesday night as I usually do. On Bellair, these guys pull up in a car and yell at me "_ _ _ _ you, Ki_ _!" ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Morlot Avenue verbal harrassment ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5/29 "We were sitting and visiting in front of the Rabbi's house, including an elderly relative. All of a sudden this guys drives passed and calls us 'A------s'. Very disturbing." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Plaza Road verbal harrassment ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5/28 "This morning walking home from Shule, my family and I were treated to cursing from a lone white male in a SUV. I responded in kind, rather than to try and get the license plate number but it would have been hard as he had the green light. It is a split second decision to make and I blew it. Altho in this case, I dont think I would have Do you think we should have a march on city hall maybe? We would like police presence more." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wilson Street verbal harrassment ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5/14 "I was walking home from Shul and this car slows down next to me. Some guy rolls down the window and yells " F--- you Jew" and speeds off. I think he might have come from that carnival they are having at TJ." "Same thing happened later the same day." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Morlot Avenue verbal harrassment ------------------------------------------------------------------------ End of April, 2005 "Over the past few weeks, I have been cursed at twice while walking home from Shul on Morlot Avenue. Both times some guy yelled "---- you Jew!" and drove off. One guy was in a black convertible and he then turned right onto a side street." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Local Fair Lawn Business death threat ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4/18 From Sgt Boyle of the FLPD: A 15 year old juvenile from Passaic County was charged with one count of Bias Intimidation and one count of Harrassment by D/Sgt. Michael Messina and Det. Jeffrey Welsh. A local businessman who practices the Jewish faith had reported receiving anonymous calls on April 8th and April 15th in which anti-Semitic remarks were made to him. The second call also contained a threat to kill him. Detectives were able to trace the phone calls which led to the charges being filed against the juvenile. The Juvenile was released to his mother pending further court action. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 20th Street and Berdan Avenue graffiti ------------------------------------------------------------------------ From Sgt Boyle of the FLPD: Officer Louis Failla responded to a report of anti semetic graffiti spray painted on a base of a highway bridge at 20th St. and Berdan Ave. The graffiti was photographed by the detective bureau for investigation and then spray painted over by the road department. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Broadway swastika ------------------------------------------------------------------------ From Sgt Boyle of the FLPD: There was also an incident at a business on Broadway when a swastika was drawn on a sign on lipstick. That one was photographed and then removed by the responding officer. Both are under investigation. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Morlot Avenue verbal harrassment ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "I was on the corner of Morlot and 17th street last Shabbat morning. A car full of youths drove by and gave me the middle finger. They then turned right onto 17th street." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Morlot Avenue verbal harrassment ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "... in the past cars with youth have gone down Morlot Ave on a Friday evening or Saturday and screamed out slurs or honked their horn." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Morlot Avenue verbal harrassment ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "The harrassment doesn't stop. Every Shabbat when I walk home from Shul someone curses me or yells at me. It always happens on the bridge on Morlot over 208." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Margate, NJ videotaping ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [NOTE FROM STEVE: This happened in Margate but we must be aware of it.] On February 13, 2005, two unknown males in an older-model, cranberry-colored van were seen videotaping the Jewish Community Center in Margate, New Jersey. Witnesses reported the unknown subjects filmed the front and rear of the community center. The incident is currently under investigation by local law enforcement. Although tourists and other people frequently videotape buildings, landmarks, and other structures for harmless purposes, videotaping may be an indicator of terrorist surveillance. It is important the Jewish community remains vigilant for suspicious activity and immediately reports such activity to local law enforcement authorities and the New Jersey Office of Counter-Terrorism at 866-4-SAFE-NJ or at 609-341-3100. Etzion Neuer Regional Director Anti-Defamation League 743 Northfield Avenue West Orange, NJ 07052 (973) 669-9700; (973) 669-9749 [fax] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lawrence, NY physical assault ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [NOTE FROM STEVE: This happened in Lawrence but we must be aware of it.] [The victim] is in the hospital recuperating (B"H) from an attack by unmarked police car. He was asked to pull over and step out of his car by 2 men in uniforms and with badges. Without thinking, he complied and was promptly tied up, blindfolded and thrown into the trunk of their vehicle. They took him to an apartment and proceeded to beat him to a pulp, yelling out that he was a "dirty Jew" and had all the money in the world. They took him back to his vehicle, beat hims some more and then dumped him. He has been in the hospital and apparently is the only person to have survived what the FBI think are similar atacks that ended in the death of the victim. This is happening in the Cedarhust, Far Rockaway area. Kal Feinberg President Golani R&P Club Sadly, it is true. I can vouch for it. Never pull over by yourself at night for an unmarked car. Call 911 and tell them that you are being followed and would like to verify it and then continue driving to the nearest precinct. They will inform the officers in the car if it's legitimate.We all learn lessons from difficult situations. Scott M. Feltman Executive Director Congregation Beth Sholom 390 Broadway Lawrence, NY 11559 Tel: (516) 569-3600 x22 Fax: (516) 569-3105 Scott_Feltman@bethsholom.info www.bethsholom.info ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Morlot Avenue verbal harrassment ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We were standing in front of the Shul, just after davening, waiting for Kiddush to start. Then this guy that had been driving down Morlot actually stops his car across the street from us and rolls down his window. He yells out really loudly 'F--- You'. We were stunned - it was like an assault." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Plaza Road verbal harrassment ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "I was walking up Plaza Road in the vecinity of the Chabad Shul, and some teenagers drove by and called me a "stupid Jew". ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Plaza Road verbal harrassment ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "I was walking to Shul on Plaza road with a friend. A car was honking - there was a lot of traffic near Morlot. Then this guy sticks out his finger and starts cursing at us." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fair Lawn Avenue vandalism ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The menorah standing in front of Bris Avraham on Fair Lawn Avenue was vandalized two weeks ago. One arm was broken off, and several others were bent out of position. This is the second attack to take place in the last few months. I have been told Shul officials have reported the incident to the town. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ George St. swastikas ------------------------------------------------------------------------ One crime that occurred on October 24th that you might be interested in is that a resident of George St. reported seeing a pentagram containing two swastikas drawn on the street with some sort of paint type substance. We photographed the evidence and then had the Rescue Squad remove it immediately. We are investigating this as a bias crime. The crime was not witnessed and we have no description of any suspects at this time. The information was released to the press and should be in the Shopper next week. We asked anyone with information about the crime to contact our detective bureau. Fortunately these occurrences are rare, but they do happen from time to time and when they do we take them very seriously and attempt to solve them with the same vigor that we would work to solve any other serious crime. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Brookside Park swastikas ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Last month, several Jewish children found swatstickas painted on a bench in Brookside park. Their mother notified police. Congressman Steve Rothman was also notified, and with his assistance they were painted over. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ellis and Burke Place physical threat ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "There is also a house on the corner of Ellis and Burke place where the owner took his motorcycle and headed directly to my wife. She stood her place. I would not tell the police now as it happened several months ago. I do keep a watch on that house when I walk by... he said he was going to get even with those Jews! Again, this happened several months ago so I would not want to approach the police at this point in time. He had also noted that they 'the Jews' all walk down this road on Saturday." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ traffic physical assault ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Two Jewish teenagers - both wearing kippot - were walking together this past Shabbat on Plaza Road when they were pelted with nails by a passing car. The attackers then sped off down a local street. The nails were three inches long and could have caused serious injury. Fortunately they were not hurt. Both families reported the incident to the police ------------------------------------------------------------------------ traffic physical assault ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A Jewish man walking to Shul with his young daughter last Shabbat morning, was the target of pennies thrown from a moving car. The car was in the opposite lane of traffic so a strong - and potentially harmful - throw was required. This same gentlemen reports being spit at the Shabbat before. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ neighbor verbal harrassment ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "I often walk past the Fair Lawn Jewish Center on my way to Shul. There is this one house in which many of the family members give me a hard time. If I just try to be friendly and say 'shalom' to this one man, he will say 'F--- shalom'. Another family member will give me an obscene finger." "I have checked with my friends at the Jewish Center. They say that whole family is indeed Anti-Semitic." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Morlot Avenue verbal harrassment ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Last fall (I believe it was the Shabbat of Chol Hamoed Sukkot), my eight-year-old daughter and I were walking down Morlot Ave., from the Shul towards Plaza Road. We were in "yom tov" clothes, i.e. both wearing dresses, and I was wearing a hat. There were a number of cars on Morlot, stopped for the red light. Someone shouted, 'Hey, Jews!' from a car across the street. Because there were many other drivers around, I wasn't afraid for my safety, so I shouted back to the person [a young, white male], 'Do you have something to say to me? Why don't you come over here and say it?' or something of that nature. Needless to say, the person sped away when the light changed." "While his exact words were not, strictly speaking, anti-Semitic, I unquestionably felt harrassed and victimized by the jeer. I tried, at the time, to remember the license plate number to report later; but I either forgot it, or forgot to report the incident, or both (I am sorry to say)." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fair Lawn Commons anti-Semitic comment ------------------------------------------------------------------------ * Prejudice from neighbors "My daughter went across the courtyard in our apartment complex to see if some other young girls her age wanted to play. One of their parents, when responding to his daughter's permission to play by us, told her 'No, you can't go over there - that's where that Jew girl lives.'" ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Morlot Avenue verbal harrassment ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "When I first moved to town some guy cursed me from his car when I was walking on Morlot. It was very disturbing, and I was really wondering if anybody was doing something about it." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ LaPoff Park verbal harrassment ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Every time my friends and I go down to the basketball court at LaPoff field we have a run-in with the local teenagers. Every time they say they want to 'beat the Jews'. They always curse us as Jews." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 1998 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Radburn Elementary School physical assault ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "I was sitting at my desk minding my own business when this new Russian kid approached me. He mumbled something about hating Jews and then punched me right in the face, right there in the class." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Before 1994 Before 1994 Before 1994 Before 1994 Before 1994 Before 1994 Before 1994 Before 1994 Before 1994 Before 1994 Before 1994 Before 1994 Before 1994 Before 1994 Before 1994 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Broadway physical threat ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "We were walking home from Shul across Broadway when I noticed a car speeding up as we entered the cross walk. I grabbed the hands of my granddaughters and lunged onto the sidewalk. If I had not jumped that guy would have hit all of us." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ neighbor verbal harrassment and swastika ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "We never got along with our neighbors - they always end up making anti-Semitic comments. After one disagreement we woke to find a swastika on our door."