Hundreds of people were seen ignoring social distancing guidelines in Williamsburg on Tuesday night.
The funeral was held for Rabbi Chaim Mertz.
Video shows hundreds of people jammed together in the streets for the service.
In a series of angry tweets, de Blasio said this type of gathering will not be tolerated and the time for warnings has passed.
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
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
"We have lost so many these last two months and I understand the instinct to gather to mourn, but large gatherings will only lead to more deaths and more families in mourning," he wrote on Twitter. "We will not allow this."
He said he has instructed the NYPD to make arrests if necessary, however no arrests were reported.
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