NYPD steps up security following deadly DC Jewish museum shooting
The tragedy happened Wednesday night as an annual gala was being held at the Jewish Children's Museum in Crown Heights.
The NYPD is stepping up its presence at religious and cultural sites across the city following the deadly shooting in Washington, D.C. that killed two Israeli Embassy staff members.
The tragedy happened Wednesday night as an annual gala was being held at the Jewish Children's Museum in Crown Heights.
"We're sitting there speaking, there's a shooting taking place right there in Washington, D.C., murdering, murdering innocent, beautiful, young, lovely couple for no other reason than an attack on the Jews," said Devorah Halberstam, founder and director of external affairs at the Jewish Children's Museum.
Halberstam founded the museum in memory of her 16 year-old son who was killed by a terrorist in 1994.
"I know what it means that their entire futures are wiped out," she said. "They can't love. They can't enjoy life and live as just a free person. And it's just so tragic."
She said the murders highlight the impacts of growing antisemitism.
In Manhattan Thursday, a group of interfaith leaders and city officials gathering to stand against hate.
"This is not just a problem for one community," said Al Sharpton, civil rights leader. "It's a problem for all of us if we don't stand together when any one of us is attacked."
The deadly shooting being condemned as an act of antisemitism.
Some Jewish leaders raise concerns about antisemitic propaganda masqueraded as activism.
"The only solution, we must all stand up and condemn all hate and condemn antisemitism, and it should not be tolerated," said Rabbi Yaacov Behrman, founder of Jewish Future Alliance.
The NYPD is stressing that it is enhancing security out of an abundance of caution.
It says there are no current known threats in the city.
