The NYPD is investigating an incident outside Barclays Center Tuesday night in which a Brooklyn Jewish leader says he was struck by a man waiving a Palestinian flag following the Nets - Maccabi Tel Aviv game. The scene outside the arena, while generally peaceful, included some ugly incidents prior to the game as well.
Leonard Petlakh, executive director of the Kings Bay Y in Sheepshead Bay, suffered a deep cut above his eye outside the arena after the conclusion of the Nets game vs. the Israeli champions.
The case is being treated as a hate crime.
The Daily News reports Petlakh was watching the game when a group of people in front of him began waving a Palestinian flag. A member of Petlakh’s group snatched the flag, sparking an argument that continued outside, cops said.
- Head of Hebrew association attacked outside Barclays Center - Kirstan Conley - New York Post
- Israel fan slugged outside Barclays Center - Thomas Tracey - New York Daily News
- Jewish Leader Attacked at Brooklyn Nets Game by Pro-Palestinian Demonstrators - Gabe Friedman - Jewish Daily Forward
- Pro-Palestinian protestor assaults Jewish leader after Nets-Maccabi TA game - Jerusalem Post
- ‘Israel’s War On Gaza Is Not A Game’: Scenes From the NBA Preseason Protest - Dave Zirin - The Nation