The NYPD’s Hate Crimes Unit is investigating an alleged attack on a pro-Israel leader

The NYPD Hate Crime Task Force is investigating the alleged attack on a prominent Israeli lawyer at a pro-Palestinian protest rally in New York on October 7.

On that day, the one-year anniversary of Hamas’ invasion of Israel, footage of Todd Richman unfurling an Israeli flag amid the city’s main pro-Palestinian protest spread online. Protesters then attempted to grab the flag and struck Richman several times after a brief, profanity-filled argument and altercation. He came out with a bloody nose.

Richman, head of the political advocacy group Democratic Majority for Israel, also wore a T-shirt that read “Bring Them Home Now,” a call for the release of hostages held by Hamas. The video was first posted by a Washington Free Beacon reportera conservative media outlet, has more than a million views as of Thursday afternoon.

Police told New York Jewish Week on Thursday that they are investigating the incident, which occurred in Union Square that afternoon, as a hate crime.

“During the struggle, an unknown male, wearing a white T-shirt and black jeans, struck the victim in the face with a flagpole,” the NYPD said in a statement. “In addition, an unknown woman, dressed in a black hat, black sweater, red sweatpants and red sunglasses, struck him in the face with a tambourine.”

Both alleged perpetrators fled on foot, the statement said. “There are no arrests at this time and the NYPD Hate Crime Task Force investigation is ongoing,” it said. Police also sent photos showing four suspected perpetrators, three men and one woman, and appealed for information.

Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine condemned the attack.

“Todd Richman is a decent, caring man, an important leader in the Jewish community… and my friend,” he tweeted. “This attack is absolutely horrific. There has to be accountability for that.”

Shortly after the incident, Richman, 54, briefly answered questions from reporters as blood streamed down his face. according to a video from AM New York. The next day he said in a statement that he had recovered.

“Thank you to everyone who came forward to check on me. Rest assured – I am fine,” Richman said in the statement from DMFI, which he co-founded in 2019. “As Americans, we have the right to protest, but yesterday, on the one-year anniversary of the deadliest day for Jews. Since the Holocaust, pro-Hamas agitators in New York City crossed a line.”

Richman declined to comment on what actions he planned to take in response to the attack. In a statement to X, he remained defiant.

“My resolve is stronger than ever,” he said Wednesday in a post with photos of the incident. “Am Yisrael Chai!”

The incident came on a day of demonstrations in support of and against Israel and is the latest in a series of physical confrontations over the past year that took place at or near rallies over the Israel-Hamas war. The Anti-Defamation League condemned the incident, saying it was part of a wave of attacks against Jews. It also warned people near protests to “exercise vigilance.”

“There is no doubt that pro-Israel activists and other bystanders are facing increasing threats to their physical safety in the current climate,” an ADL spokesperson said. “As of October 7, ADL has documented more than 150 assaults throughout the year, at least a dozen of which occurred during anti-Israel protests that turned violent. We urge anyone near a protest area to exercise vigilance and immediately report threats or physical violence to law enforcement.”

On Wednesday, Ofir Akunis, the Israeli consul general in New York, met with Richman. In an online post, Akunis’ office published a photo of the two men and linked the incident to a rise in anti-Semitic violence.

“The rise in anti-Semitic violence is unacceptable” said the consulate. “We stand united against all forms of hatred.”

With additional reporting from Luke Tress.