MID-ATLANTIC EDITION

Headlines

Queens Man Indicted on Hate Crime Charges for Bagel Shop Vandalism
NYPD Investigates Manhattan Bank Vandalism as Potential Hate Crime Amid Rising NYC Incidents
NJ Congressional Candidate Faces Scrutiny Over Past Defense of Cleric Linked to 1993 WTC Bombing

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Transcript

You're listening to Antisemitism Watch: Mid-Atlantic edition, I'm Rachel Adler.

A Queens man has been indicted on hate crime charges for allegedly vandalizing a Jewish-owned bagel shop on two separate occasions earlier this year. Dawood Faisal, 22, faces two counts of criminal mischief in the third degree as a hate crime, according to reporting from qns.com and the Queens District Attorney's office. Prosecutors allege Faisal targeted Bagels & Co. in Fresh Meadows specifically because it is Jewish-owned and displayed Israeli flags. On May 15th, he is accused of knocking over plant stands and throwing dirt at the storefront, and returned a week later to repeat similar acts. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz stated that Faisal "repeatedly targeted a Fresh Meadows business specifically because it is Jewish-owned and featured Israeli flags, and destroyed property as an expression of antisemitism," adding that "Bias crimes are an affront to our entire community and will not be tolerated." If convicted, Faisal faces up to seven years in prison. He also faces separate manslaughter and assault charges in connection with a fatal hit-and-run incident that occurred days after the alleged vandalism, an incident which the husband of the victim, Cara Trager, had called for to be designated a hate crime, according to nypost.com.

In Manhattan, the NYPD's Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating vandalism at a Capital One bank branch as a potential hate crime. As reported by nbcnewyork.com and patch.com, the incident occurred Monday morning on the Upper East Side, where windows were smashed and the building was spray-painted with the slogans "Pal Action" and "Drop Elbit." The pro-Palestinian group Palestine Action claimed responsibility, stating the vandalism was aimed at Capital One for its financial ties to Elbit Systems, an Israeli defense company. City Council Speaker Julie Menin called the destruction "deeply disturbing and unacceptable" and urged an immediate investigation, while JCRC CEO Mark Treyger denounced the "hateful vandalism." This incident comes amid a documented rise in antisemitism in New York City. According to NYPD figures, Jewish victims accounted for 53% of all confirmed hate crimes across the city in the first nine months of 2026, despite making up only about 10% of the city's population, as detailed by jns.org and nypost.com.

Also in New York City, a hateful note containing the phrase 'Nuke Jews, Save Lives' was left at the Center for Jewish History, according to JTA reporting.

In politics, scrutiny is falling on Democratic congressional candidate Adam Hamawy in New Jersey's 12th District. As reported by jewishlink.news, Hamawy's past associations are being highlighted, including his 1995 testimony for Omar Abdel-Rahman, the Egyptian cleric known as the 'Blind Sheikh,' whose followers were linked to the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Hamawy also translated for the cleric and reportedly referred to him as a "leader of the community." Further concerns have been raised about Hamawy's volunteer work with the Benevolence International Foundation, which federal investigators found had been used by Osama bin Laden. On the campaign trail, Hamawy has referred to the war in Gaza as a "genocide" and advocates ending U.S. military aid to Israel. His campaign has received significant funding from the pro-Palestine super PAC American Priorities.

I'm Rachel Adler, thank you for listening to Antisemitism Watch: Mid-Atlantic edition.

For broader coverage of antisemitism across the United States and around the world, listen to Antisemitism Watch at clockwork media dot org slash A W.

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This report was generated with AI assistance and may contain inaccuracies. Please verify important details with primary sources.

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Sources:
- JTA: https://www.jta.org/2026/10/19/ny/nuke-jews-save-lives-note-left-at-center-for-jewish-history
- gothamist.com: https://gothamist.com/news/queens-man-charged-with-hate-crime-at-jewish-owned-bagel-shop-displaying-israeli-flags
- israelnationalnews.com: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/434865
- nysba.org: https://nysba.org/combating-antisemitism-in-the-workplace/
- nypost.com: https://nypost.com/2026/10/19/us-news/nyc-man-charged-in-fatal-hit-and-run-in-jewish-neib-hit-with-hate-crimes-for-trashing-bagel-shop/
- timesofisrael.com: https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-york-city-bank-targeted-with-anti-israel-graffiti-windows-smashed/
- nbcnewyork.com: https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/capital-one-bank-vandalism-upper-east-side-manhattan-pro-palestine-message/6560849/
- fox5ny.com: https://www.fox5ny.com/video/fmc-jayypz9irf9d79jn
- clevelandjewishnews.com: https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/jns/nypd-hate-crimes-unit-probes-anti-israel-vandalism-at-manhattan-bank/article_32fde857-a4a7-5381-993b-b2f312c5e1c7.html
- jns.org: https://www.jns.org/news/u-s-news/nypd-hate-crimes-unit-probes-anti-israel-vandalism-at-manhattan-bank
- patch.com: https://patch.com/new-york/upper-east-side-nyc/windows-smashed-drop-elbit-graffiti-scrawled-ues-bank
- blogs.timesofisrael.com: https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/is-paris-burning-2/
- thecollegefix.com: https://www.thecollegefix.com/not-inclusive-embry-riddle-rejects-yaf-request-to-host-allen-west/
- jewishlink.news: https://jewishlink.news/three-years-after-october-7-a-clear-choice-in-nj-12/
- qns.com: https://qns.com/2026/10/fresh-meadows-man-indicted-hate-crime/

If you've witnessed or experienced an antisemitic incident, report it to your local Jewish Federation:

In a true emergency, call 911 first.

• Middlesex & Monmouth, NJ — Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey: Report an incident

• Greater MetroWest, NJ (Essex, Morris, Union, Somerset) — Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ: Report an incident

• Northern NJ (Bergen, Hudson, Passaic) — Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey: Report an incident

• Greater Philadelphia — Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia: Report an incident

• NYC, Long Island, Westchester & Rockland — UJA-Federation of New York: Responding to antisemitism