Did NYC mayor unfairly target Jewish community?

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Mayor Accused of Singling Out Jewish Community Over Social Distancing Violations

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio faced significant backlash after ordering the dispersal of crowds attending a rabbi's funeral and threatening arrests, with critics asserting that he unfairly targeted the Jewish community. Hundreds of Orthodox Hasidic Jews had gathered in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, for the funeral of 73-year-old Chaim Mertz, who succumbed to Covid-19. Mayor de Blasio publicly stated on Twitter that there would be "zero tolerance" for large gatherings and directed the New York Police Department (NYPD) to issue summonses or make arrests for such events.
Public Statements Prompted Accusations of Bias

Mayor de Blasio's directive, communicated via Twitter, explicitly mentioned the Jewish community and declared "zero tolerance" for large events during the ongoing fight against coronavirus. He stated that the time for warnings had passed and that the NYPD was instructed to immediately issue summonses or arrest individuals gathering in large numbers, framing the action as necessary for stopping the disease and saving lives. This specific mention of the Jewish community, while hundreds of people were gathered, led to accusations that he was unfairly singling out an entire religious group.
Criticism from Political Figures and Advocacy Groups

The mayor's remarks drew sharp criticism from various political figures and religious advocacy groups. Ted Deutch, chairman of the House of Representatives ethics committee, expressed concern over singling out the entire Jewish community for potential arrest, stating it was troubling and sent a shiver down their collective spine. Senator Ted Cruz echoed these sentiments, tweeting that laws should be enforced neutrally without targeting religious faith. The Orthodox Jewish Public Affairs Council (OJPAC) also accused de Blasio of singling out New York City's 1.1 million Jews, arguing that only a few hundred individuals attended the funeral.
Comparisons to Other Large Gatherings

Social media users and OJPAC pointed out the perceived inconsistency in the mayor's response by highlighting other large public gatherings that occurred on the same day. Notably, crowds had also assembled to watch a flyover of US military fighter jets over New York City in tribute to healthcare workers. OJPAC shared photos of these crowds, suggesting that the mayor's focus on the funeral was disproportionate given other instances of people gathering, and that he was wrong to rush to Williamsburg for an event when similar or larger gatherings were occurring elsewhere in the city without similar condemnation.
Funeral Held with Police Awareness

Further complicating the situation, the Satmar Hasidic group's headquarters stated that the funeral had been held with the approval of the New York police. They reported that the police had provided barriers to block off the road for the procession. This detail suggests a level of coordination or at least awareness from law enforcement regarding the event, which critics argued made the mayor's subsequent public condemnation and threat of arrests appear more targeted and less justified.

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Did NYC mayor unfairly target Jewish community?

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