Mayor Bill de Blasio is getting blowback for threatening to arrest Jewish citizens of New York City who appeared to ignore social distancing orders while mourning the death of a recently passed rabbi.
Supporters of Rabbi Chaim Mertz, who reportedly died from the coronavirus, gathered Tuesday evening to mourn the passing of the religious leader, flouting the social distancing guidelines put forth by both state and city municipalities.
The New York City mayor put out three tweets about what he deemed to be an “absolutely unacceptable” gathering aiding the coronavirus outbreak and ultimately threatened arrest of those who ignored his order. Images of the funeral gathering:
Tipster says this is the Williamsburg funeral today of Rabbi Chaim Mertz who died from COVID-19 pic.twitter.com/wsTvCrlzpb
— Reuven Blau (@ReuvenBlau) April 29, 2020
Something absolutely unacceptable happened in Williamsburg tonite: a large funeral gathering in the middle of this pandemic. When I heard, I went there myself to ensure the crowd was dispersed. And what I saw WILL NOT be tolerated so long as we are fighting the Coronavirus
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) April 29, 2020
The following up tweets addressed members of the “Jewish community” who ignored warnings and included his instructions to the NYPD to summons or arrest those who gathered in large groups:
My message to the Jewish community, and all communities, is this simple: the time for warnings has passed. I have instructed the NYPD to proceed immediately to summons or even arrest those who gather in large groups. This is about stopping this disease and saving lives. Period.
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) April 29, 2020
We have lost so many these last two months + I understand the instinct to gather to mourn. But large gatherings will only lead to more deaths + more families in mourning. We will not allow this. I have instructed the NYPD to have one standard for this whole city: zero tolerance.
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) April 29, 2020
Hey @NYCMayor, there are 1mil+ Jewish people in #NYC. The few who don’t social distance should be called out — but generalizing against the whole population is outrageous especially when so many are scapegoating Jews. This erodes the very unity our city needs now more than ever. https://t.co/jcYO9QQred
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) April 29, 2020
Sluice Report Editor’s Note: This is a Twitter post from New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio on April 24th 2020. Notice the lack of “Social Distancing” in this Photo op.
Health care heroes like the staff at @NYCHealthSystem Kings County are the heart and soul of this fight — fearless, passionate New Yorkers who will do anything to protect their neighbors.@NYCFirstLady and I were honored to thank them tonight. #ClapBecauseWeCare pic.twitter.com/nErkk76lBa
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) April 24, 2020
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