🚨Real talk time this morning: On a very crowded 4 train one stop before work I notice a scuffle. I'm in the middle of a packed car watching. A man, who turned out to be a rabbi, who was riding the entire time near me, was on the platform now taking photos on his phone. 1/8
🚨Real talk time this morning: The next thing I know one of the people he's taking a picture of lunges after him. I find myself running out of the car, pushing people aside, and I grab hold of the front of the guy's jacket and hold him there while the rabbi gets further away. 2/8
🚨Real talk time this morning: I'm in the guy's face yelling: "Do you want me to call the police? Get out of here." I'm still holding on to the lapels of his jacket. People watch, but don't do anything. 3/8
🚨Real talk time this morning: The guy now tries to yell something back at the rabbi. At this moment I'm almost yanking him up by his jacket. He then mutters something at me, I toss him, and he scampers back on the train. Doors close. He's gone. 4/8
🚨Real talk time this morning: I talk to the rabbi, find out he's from California, and we chat a little about what happened. They were harassing him the entire ride. 5/8
🚨Real talk time this morning: Obviously the rabbi was very appreciative. "We have to stick together." But, in that statement also was some surprise in someone doing something. Not doing something was never an option. It was pure instinct to intervene. 6/8
🚨Real talk time this morning: Two things are unacceptable here:
1) The anti-Semitism
2) Nobody else stepping in to help
On a very crowded train, on a very crowded platform, only one person stood up.
7/8
1) The anti-Semitism
2) Nobody else stepping in to help
On a very crowded train, on a very crowded platform, only one person stood up.
7/8
🚨Real talk time this morning: As a society we are better than this. I'm not shocked that anti-Semitism still exists, I am shocked at the complacency of my fellow New Yorkers. 8/8
