Man beaten for taking photos of Orthodox Jews violating restrictions - News Today

Two Jewish men were either attacked or chased down by ultra-Orthodox Jewish protesters who took to New York City streets to demonstrate against Gov Andrew Cuomo's new restrictions on schools, businesses and houses of worship in nine neighborhoods with surging COVID-19 cases. According to Mordy Getz, his brother, Berish Getz, was 'critically injured by anti-mask Hasidic rioters' on Tuesday night. The 34-year-old victim was reportedly recording video of the crowd in Borough Park, Brooklyn, when some of them started calling him a 'snitch' and demanded that he stop. A relative told the New York Post that Berish tried to avoid harm, but a mob caught up to him and started assaulting the victim, who is also Jewish. Scroll down for video Local police said three men hit Berish in the neck, head and face during the demonstration at the corner of 14th Avenue and 46th Street around 1.30am, according to the Post. Berish's brother shared horrifying video of the victim being lifted onto a stretcher before being transported to a local hospital. Berish was not responsive during the transport, his brother said. 'We want full investigation and prosecution,' Mordy Getz tweeted. Meanwhile, a photographer, who is also Jewish, said he was chased down by a crowd of screaming Orthodox Jewish protesters in Borough Park. Share this article Share Bruce Schaff told the Post on Wednesday that he was left 'terrified' from the ordeal. 'Even the people trying to help me were telling me to turn my camera off, and seemed like they might attack me once I did,' Schaff said. 'Out of all the protests I've been to I've never seen this level of violence from protesters toward members of the press, photographers, or anyone for that matter,' he added. According to video shared with the newspaper, a police supervisor told Schaff to leave the area as Orthodox Jewish community members screamed and tried to cover his camera. 'Stop snapping! Who are sending these videos to?! Get out of my neighborhood!' the crowd yelled. 'Erase every photo now! You're an anti-Semite!'Schaff said he was kicked and punched after falling to the ground, but he managed to escape and make his way to a police detail. He said the officers then took him to safety in the back of a police SUV.'I've been covering protests for the last 6 months and nothing has been as bad as this,' Schaff told the police. Anger and resentment flared Wednesday in New York City neighborhoods facing new coronavirus shutdowns. Residents said the state is unfairly targeting Orthodox Jewish communities as it tries to stamp out hot spots before they spread.Protests erupted in Brooklyn's Borough Park neighborhood Tuesday night after Cuomo announced new restr