An activist and radio host, Harold “Heshy” Tischler, was arrested Sunday evening and charged with assault during protests by members of New York City’s Orthodox Jewish community.
“New York City Police Department Warrant Squad has taken Harold ‘Heshy’ Tischler into custody. He will be charged with inciting to riot and unlawful imprisonment in connection with an assault of a journalist that took place on October 7, 2020 in Brooklyn,” the department tweeted.
The New York City Police Department Warrant Squad has taken Harold “Heshy” Tischler into custody. He will be charged with inciting to riot and unlawful imprisonment in connection with an assault of a journalist that took place on October 7, 2020 in Brooklyn. pic.twitter.com/cLkfcBpZUu
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) October 12, 2020
Protests began last week after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo reinstated coronavirus restrictions in predominantly Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods as the city experienced an increase in cases, according to the city’s coronavirus dashboard. The restrictions targeted houses of worship, in some cases limiting attendance of religious services to no more than 10 people.
“We are appalled by Governor Cuomo’s words and actions today,” four Orthodox Jewish lawmakers representing the areas affected by the shutdown wrote in a letter following the announcement. “What occurred today can only be described as a duplicitous bait-and-switch.”
Cuomo blamed the increased restrictions on local officials failing to enforce public health protocols such as wearing masks in public spaces.
“The rules weren’t being enforced because the community didn’t want to follow them,” he added. “I understand that, but that’s why we are where we are. Make no mistake.”
During the second night of protests, Jewish Insider reporter Jacob Kornbluh tweeted that he had been “brutally assaulted, hit in the head, and kicked at by an angry crowd of hundreds of community members of the Boro Park protest” and claimed that Tischler had been the one to identify him and incite the violence.
I was just brutally assaulted, hit in the head, and kicked at by an angry crowd of hundreds of community members of the Boro Park protest — while yelling at me “Nazi” and “Hitler” —after Heshy Tischler recognized me and ordered the crowd to chase me down the street
— Jacob Kornbluh (@jacobkornbluh) October 8, 2020
Tischler has been an outspoken critic of coronavirus restrictions and in the past has looked to President Trump as a motivator for resisting the measures.
“Here is my army!” Tischler said Wednesday night amid a crowd of protesters. “We’re gonna fight back. This is our city, our town, our country,” he said, according to Forward.
“When I’m on the street, I don’t have to wear a mask, just like the president,” added.
In a video posted to Twitter, Tischler said that he would plead not guilty to the charges. “I did not commit this crime of violence,” he said. “Nobody was arrested that night.”
