California Man Indicted on Hate Crimes and Harassment Charges for Antisemitic Remarks on Manhattan Subway
A California man who allegedly threatened a Jewish straphanger on a Manhattan subway has been indicted on hate crimes and harassment charges, the Manhattan District Attorney’s office announced Friday.
Charges and Incident Details
Christopher Husary, 37, was charged in New York State Supreme court with one count each of attempted coercion as a hate crime and second-degree aggravated harassment.
The charges stem from a June 10 incident in which Husary threatened, harassed and made antisemitic remarks toward a 35-year-old Jewish man on a northbound 5 train at the Fulton Street Station in Lower Manhattan at around 8:30 p.m.
Symbols and Threats
Several minutes after the victim boarded the train, he saw Husary using a marker to draw an upside-down red triangle on the train door, according to court documents and statements on the record in court. According to the Anti-Defamation League, an inverted triangle emerged last year as a symbol that can signify “support for violent Palestinian resistance against Israel.”
The victim used his phone to take a picture once he noticed the drawing, D.A.’s office reported, adding that Husary then went up to the victim, who was wearing a yarmulke, and demanded he delete the image.
Threats and Remarks
The suspect then threatened the victim and spewed out a list of antisemitic remarks, including, “Yo, we got a Zionist over here,” “We’ll find you and there will be consequences,” and “You’re not a real Jew,” the D.A.’s office said in a press release.
Victim and Investigation
The victim exited the train at the 86 Street and Lexington Avenue station and reported the incident to law enforcement on June 22.
DA’s Statement
“As alleged, Christopher Husary tried to force a Jewish man to comply with his demands by spewing antisemitic comments and threats at him,” District Attorney Alvin Bragg said. “We will continue using all the tools at our disposal to hold those accountable who commit acts driven by hate and discrimination.”
Conclusion
The DA’s office emphasized the importance of holding those accountable who commit hate crimes and encouraged anyone who believes they have been a victim of a hate crime to come forward and report it to the authorities.
FAQs
Q: What charges was Christopher Husary indicted on?
A: Husary was charged with attempted coercion as a hate crime and second-degree aggravated harassment.
Q: What symbols were drawn on the train door?
A: An upside-down red triangle was drawn on the train door.
Q: What did Husary threaten the victim with?
A: Husary threatened the victim and made antisemitic remarks, including threats to find and harm him.
Q: How did the victim respond?
A: The victim used his phone to take a picture of the symbol and then exited the train and reported the incident to law enforcement.
Q: What did DA Alvin Bragg say about the incident?
A: DA Bragg stated that the DA’s office will continue to use all tools at their disposal to hold those accountable who commit acts driven by hate and discrimination.
Q: How can I report a hate crime?
A: Anyone who believes they have been a victim of a hate crime can call 911 or report it to the DA’s office’s Hate Crimes Unit at 212-335-3100.
