2 Arrested for Attacking Jewish Woman, Ripping Star of David from her Neck

The NYPD is searching for two well-dressed suspects in connection with an attack on a Jewish woman who video taped Missing Hostage posters being torn down. -Photo by NYPD

By Dan Gesslein

Manhattan Voice

November 27, 2023

MANHATTAN - The NYPD arrested two women for allegedly assaulting a Jewish woman and ripping her chain of the Star of David off her neck. The victim was attacked because she recorded the pair tearing down posters of Hamas hostage victims, cops said. 

The NYPD announced the arrest of 26-year old Mehwish Omer and 25-year-old Stephanie Gonzalez. Omer was charged with two hate crime charges for assault and criminal mischief. Gonzalez was charged with hate crime assault and attempted robbery.

At around 10 pm on November 9, two women were removing the posters of missing Israelis taken hostage by Hamas. The pair tore down the posters that were on light poles outside a park on Riverside Drive and West 82nd Street.

The NYPD said a 41-year-old woman saw the pair and used her phone to record the posters being torn down. The woman began arguing with the suspects over tearing down the posters. 

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Cops said the two women then attacked the victim. One of the women ripped a chain of the Star of David off the victim’s neck while the other assaulted her. Cops said the pair knocked the woman’s cell phone out of her hand and knocked her to the ground. 

The attackers then ran away in an unknown direction.  

The victim sustained bruising to her face and neck. She refused medial attention at the scene. 

Despite the phone being damaged in the attack, investigators were able to retrieve the video and released photos of the suspects.