NPR: Black, Jewish Tension Rises Again In Crown Heights

Black, Jewish Tension Rises Again In Crown Heights

Police fear rising tension in Crown Heights could reach a level seen here in 1991, when violent riots eventually broke out.

Police are descending upon a New York City neighborhood, where tensions between the Jewish and black communities are escalating. Riots broke out in Crown Heights back in 1991, after a black child was killed by a Jewish driver.

Here's more from WCBS:

In the past month, 20-year-old Andrew Charles, who is black, was beaten up, and the suspect is Jewish.
Then last week, 16-year-old Alon Sherman, who is Jewish, had his jaw broken while being allegedly robbed by two black teens. The attackers were arrested Thursday.
Inside a Jewish museum dedicated to tolerance and understanding, black and religious leaders pleaded for the public to write a new history of race and religious relations.
"We are one standing together yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Forever," said Jewish Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn).
Added Councilman Mathieu Eugene (D-Dist. 40): "We may have arrived on different ships, but now we are all in the same boat."

While the police presence in the neighborhood is expected to dissipate once the tensions are resolved, many fear that the violence will return once they leave.

"It's a bad thing. I hope it doesn't escalate," one black resident told CBS 2. And if it does, there will be a quick response.

"It's scary what's been going on, but I'm happy police are taking it seriously," said Chana Levine, a Jewish Crown Heights resident.

Geoffrey Gardner

5:39 PM ET | 05-22-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

Charles Gooden Jr. was brutally beaten to death and urinated on by 15 people in a residential Cleveland neighborhood. Does NPR care? Apparently not. It seems that unless a racial element can be gleaned from the story, no one cares. How sad.

I'm not saying there isn't a genuine issue here with the Jews/Blacks in Crown Heights. But I find it extremely frustrating to see so many resources focused on highlighting racial conflicts while Black death in general is routinely dismised as less than newsworthy.

Sent by Bill M | 2:30 PM ET | 05-23-2008

blacks killing blacks a very very common event is not somthing liberals want to report on. black-x tensions (I am not ware of a group blacks do not have tensions with) can be put off on the other group or have the blame shared. NPR never does stories which highlight the moral and economic depravity of the black community especially not news and notes which biases there coverage to be positive in spite of the truth

Sent by SoCal surfer | 4:47 PM ET | 05-26-2008

It's a shame when two groups that can be categorized as "pariah people" foolishly attack each other over minutia. Both African Americans and Jews have a thousand enemies. Why are they making enemies of one another?

Sent by Brandon | 11:35 AM ET | 05-27-2008

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