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AmericaThousands attended a rabbi’s funeral, defying a restraining order to avoid Covid-19 in New York, forcing police to fire.
Dermot Shea, the New York City Police Chief, said at a press conference on April 29 that thousands of people in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, gathered the night before to attend the funeral of Rabbi Chaim Mertz, who died of NCoV infection.
A Jewish congregation previously worked with police on plans to close streets in the area so that the funeral could comply with community segregation rules, Mitchell Silber, executive director of the Public Safety Initiative co, a program that protects Jewish organizations, he said. However, both the congregation and the police were surprised by the attendance.
In front of too many people who attended the event, some of which were not wearing masks, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio ordered police to disperse the crowd. New York police mobilized a large force and patrols to quickly ask these people to leave the funeral.
Authorities did not arrest anyone at the funeral, but police issued approximately 12 subpoenas to violators during the event.
Crowds of funeral rabbis died of nCoV in Williamsburg, New York, on April 28, despite a blockade. Photos: AP.
“This is a separate event planned by a congregation. The incident last night did not reflect negatively on Judaism, the Williamsburg community, Orthodox Judaism or the entire Jewish community,” said Silber. .
Some Jewish leaders criticized de Blasio’s mayor after he tweeted that he had instructed the city police department to meet, including gathering people in large groups.
“This is to prevent disease and save lives,” de Blasio wrote. Covid-19 killed more than 23,000 people in New York State, forcing the government to issue orders requiring people to stay in their homes and close schools and businesses.
Police disperse crowds at a rabbi funeral in Williamsburg, New York, on April 28. Video: NBC News.
However, Mayor de Blasio’s decision and speech are viewed by some as racist and directed at the Jewish community and minorities. Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, noted that New York City is home to more than a million Jews.
“A small number of people who don’t fill a gap in the community should be given a face-to-face name, but it’s insulting to hold their hands against that community, especially when so many people blame the Jews.” Greenblatt wrote on Twitter, referring to Mayor de Blasio’s comment.
At a press conference on April 29, Mayor de Blasio said he regretted the way he expressed his concerns about the crowd attending the funeral, but said he did so for the safety of the people. Covid-19 in the United States. Meanwhile, Sheriff Shea insisted that people were responsible for their actions, regardless of region, ethnicity, or origin. “We can’t have meetings like last night,” said Shea.
David Harris, executive director of the global Jewish advocacy group AJC, said De Blasio was a good friend of the Jewish community and that his comments on Twitter did not reflect his true self.
Covid-19 has appeared in 210 countries and territories since the Wuhan outbreak in December 2019, leaving almost 3.2 million infected, more than 227,000 dead and more than 997,000 in recovery. The United States is currently the largest epidemic region in the world with more than one million nCoV infections and almost 61,000 deaths.
Run away (The O Reuters)
