Video: Orthodox Jewish man sucker punched in head in Brooklyn
EAST WILLIAMSBURG, Brooklyn (WABC) -- A Jewish man wearing traditional Orthodox clothing was sucker punched in Brooklyn.
It happened at Wallabout Street and Throop Avenue around 6:40 p.m. on November 30.
The video shows a heavyset man walking up behind the victim and taking a swing at him, knocking the 33-year-old man to the ground.
He suffered minor injuries.
It's not clear if the attack was motivated by hate, but police are looking into it because of what the victim was wearing.
The NYPD says hate crimes are up this year, particularly against Jewish people.
The uptick has the American Defamation League speaking out.
"We know that hate is affecting many communities, and we must stand strong and send a unified message to combat it at all levels," said Evan R. Bernstein, Regional Director of ADL for New York and New Jersey, in a statement.
UPDATE: Police have arrested 32-year-old Enrique Gerena in connection with this incident and charged him with third-degree assault as a hate crime.
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