Presidential hopeful de Blasio says anti-Semitism threat comes from the right

New York City mayor addresses rise of hate crimes in the city, 60 percent of which target Jews

By JTA 6 June 2019, 3:45 am

Edit

In this January 10, 2019, file photo, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio speaks at his State of the City address in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

NEW YORK — New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democratic presidential candidate, said he sees threats of anti-Semitism as coming from the right wing.

At a news conference Tuesday in Brooklyn about the rise of hate crimes in the city, de Blasio was asked about a supposed rise in anti-Semitism on the left.

“I think the ideological movement that is anti-Semitic is the right-wing movement,” responded the mayor, who announced his 2020 White House run last month.

At the news conference, the New York Police Department said that hate crimes have risen this year despite a decrease in overall crime. Sixty percent of the hate crimes counted were committed against Jews, in particular those living in predominantly Orthodox areas, Bklyner reported.

De Blasio’s comments drew criticism, including from City Councilman Chaim Deutsch.