After Slew of Anti-Semitic Attacks in New York, Volunteers Plan to Patrol Jewish Neighborhoods

The stabbing in Monsey during a Hanukkah celebration on Saturday night was the most recent anti-Semitic attack in the New York City area, something that has become all too common over the last few weeks. A group of volunteers, known as Guardian Angels, are coming together to patrol the Brooklyn borough as a way of helping deter attacks on Jews.

The group is a private, unarmed crime-prevention group that was founded by Curtis Sliwa in 1979. The goal was to help prevent crime by filling in where budget deficits and police patrols fell short. 

According to Sliwa, the attacks that are taking place are because of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio failing to do something.

"These attacks are taking place, and the cops have not been proactive at all," Sliwa told NBC News. "It comes from City Hall and the mayor. He's been just apathetic."

Following Saturday night's attack, de Blasio promised to make police more visible in various boroughs. 

Hate doesn’t have a home in our city.

In light of recent anti-Semitic attacks, the NYPD will increase their presence in Boro Park, Crown Heights and Williamsburg.

Anyone who terrorizes our Jewish community WILL face justice.

— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) December 27, 2019

In addition to heightened visibility, there will be increased visits to houses of worship and other critical areas in the community.

Anti-Semitism is an attack on the values of our city — and we will confront it head-on.

— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) December 27, 2019

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Police will also be increasing patrols in Borough Park, Midwood, Crown Heights, Bedford-Stuyvesant and Williamsburg. Each of those precincts will include four to six officers per tour, the City announced on Monday.

According to Sliwa, the Guardian Angels will serve as another layer of protection.

"We’re a visual deterrence in our red berets and our red satin jackets," he explained. "Nobody’s going to commit an attack when we're around."

If an attack does take place, the Guardian Angels have a plan in place.

"We’ll physically restrain the persons responsible, make a citizen's arrest, and hold them until the police arrive," Sliwa said.

The organization has chapters throughout the United States and around the world.