Eight months after a prominent Jewish leader, Kings Bay Y executive director Leonard Petlakh, was assaulted outside Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn following an exhibition game between the Nets and a team from Tel Aviv, Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz (D-Brooklyn) is commending Kings County District Attorney Ken Thompson for his decision to indict the man arrested in the attack for a hate crime.

“The D.A.’s action sends a strong message that crimes motivated by hatred and bigotry will not be tolerated and will, in fact, result in harsh consequences for those foolish enough to commit them,” Assemblyman Cymbrowitz said.

The suspect, Shawn Schraeder, left Petlakh with a broken nose and severe lacerations in the October 7, 2014 attack, which took place in front of Petlakh’s two young sons. Schraeder was part of a group of anti-Israel protestors that reportedly disrupted the game and, afterward, let loose a barrage of anti-Semitic slurs including “You are child murderers.”

Schraeder was arrested 10 days after the attack, on October 17th, and charged with assault in the third degree. At the time, Assemblyman Cymbrowitz said he found the omission of a bias charge “extremely disturbing” and asked D.A. Thompson to investigate.

Following a lengthy investigation, the district attorney began grand jury proceedings and today announced a hate crime charge against Schraeder as part of the six-count indictment.

“Many thanks to Brooklyn D.A. Thompson for pursuing this investigation and finding just cause to charge the suspect not just for the assault but for the anti-Semitic hatred that both precipitated and accompanied it,” Assemblyman Cymbrowitz said. “There is ample evidence that Mr. Schraeder did not attend the game as a spectator but as an instigator turned thug, and he deserves the harshest penalty the law allows for this type of crime.”

“From the very beginning there was no doubt that the perpetrators of these cowardly attacks meant to single out Leonard Petlakh and his family as Jews and supporters of Isreal, and I want to thank Kings County District Attorney Ken Thompson and his staff for pursuing the indictment of a felony hate crime assault,” said Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein. “Leonard Petlakh is not only a friend of mine and a true asset to our community, but, ironically, has dedicated much of his time to the advancement of peaceful and productive multi-cultural relations and outreach. This attack upon him in front of his children was a great blow to the community and these indictments will hopefully stop the growing anti-Israel, anti-Semitic sentiment that we have seen in different forms in our City, Nation and across the globe. Thank you to the DA Thompson for sending a clear message: violent acts of intolerance and hate will be met with swift and appropriate justice”, concluded Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein.

(YWN Desk – NYC)