Jewish and Black community leaders will gather Sunday afternoon on the steps of The Brooklyn Supreme Court for a community unification rally to denounce the recent violence against both communities and call for a stop to the recent knockout attacks, as well as as the attack that occurred last week in Williamsburg against a black fashion student.

The rally is organized in association with community leaders from the African-American, Jewish, Caribbean, Hispanic, Asian communities, as well as the LGBT community.

According to the organizers, Public Advocate-Elect Tish James, Brooklyn Borough President-Elect Eric Adams, The UJO, Fernando Mateo of Hispanics Across America, Dr. Richard Green, Brooklyn NAACP President & Members, The National Action Network Chapter Leaders and members, will all attend the Sunday press conference.

“The event is grass roots driven and although we do have political leaders we are putting an emphasis on getting out our community and organizational leaders,” Tony Herbert, coordinator of the event, told YWN.

Also on Sunday, Williamsburg community leaders – including the Brooklyn Community Pride Center, Rabbi David Niederman (UJO/Satmar-Zalis), the Patterson family, and Councilman Stephen Levin – will attend a morning press conference called for by Public Advocate-Elect Tish James, calling for Brooklyn unity following the attack on Taj Patterson and a quick arrest of the suspects responsible.

UPDATE 12:10pm:

“In New York City, we have zero-tolerance for hate crimes, and what happened to this young man is no exception,” Public Advocate-elect Letitia James stated in a press release announcing the press conference. “I have joined my colleagues in the City Council as well as Congress to call for an end to the disturbing Knockout Attacks, and I now call for Brooklyn to show unity as we seek justice for the multiple victims that have been affected by these cowardly acts. No one should fear walking through their own community. I again ask the public to report any information related to these disturbing attacks.”

Council Member Stephen Levin, who condemned the attack when it was reported said, “Acts like this have no place in our society and our community will not tolerate them. The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is currently investigating this crime and I have full faith and confidence that they will pursue every possible lead to ensure that justice is done, and I will everything I can to assist them.”

Rabbi Moshe David Neiderman, Satmar community leader and head of UJO, explained his participation in the unity rally. “We join with Council Member and Public Advocate-elect James who consistently stands with all communities denouncing violence and hate, creating unity in Brooklyn,” he said in a statement on the joint press release. “We fully agree that there should be zero-tolerance for hate crimes, knockout games and the like. Violent behavior by anybody, against anybody, no matter who they are, for whatever reason, must cease immediately.”

(Jacob Kornbluh – YWN)