Crown Heights Mob Assault Amid Protest

Published by: Associated Press

Date: April 28, 2025

Scope: Crown Heights North (near Chabad-Lubavitch HQ)

A local resident in her 30s experienced terrifying harassment during a protest incident near the Chabad-Lubavitch headquarters in Crown Heights. Mistaken for a protester opposing an Israeli official’s visit, she was surrounded, chased, kicked, and spat upon by a mob of Orthodox Jewish men and boys chanting “Death to Arabs.” Officers ultimately escorted her to safety, but not before she endured serious emotional trauma and physical injury—underscoring how quickly peaceful neighborhoods can spiral into violence.

This assault hits home for neighbors in Crown Heights North, Weeksville, and Prospect Heights. It reveals how community tensions—especially at sites with deep historical and cultural significance—can erupt without warning. Even those uninvolved in any protest can be swept into harm’s way.