Ocean Parkway is particularly impressive at this time of year, with its trees bearing leaves of red, gold, and orange.
Today, people's minds weren't on the beauty of nature as they marched in Midwood against hatred and bigotry, a march held in response to anti-semitic acts committed Thursday night or early Friday morning. Four cars parked on Ocean Parkway by Avenue I, a heavily Orthodox Jewish neighborhood, had been set on fire, and anti-semitic symbols and comments were written on another car and on public benches and the sidewalk.
The crimes are being investigated by the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force. Dozens of empty beer bottles found nearby will get tested for fingerprints and DNA.
Deputy Inspector John Sprague, commander of the 66th Precinct, immediately deployed additional protection to institutions.
Elected officials participating in the march included Councilmembers Tish James, Brad Lander, Steve Levin, and Jumaane Williams, Assemblymembers Bill Colton, Dov Hikind, and Bob Turner, State Senator Eric Adams, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, New York City Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, and former New York City Comptroller Bill Thompson, as well as civil rights lawyer and former director of the New York Civil Liberties Union Norman Siegel and about twenty-five people from Occupy Wall Street.
Anyone who has possibly useful information should contact the NYPD Crime Stopper tip phone line by calling (800) 577-TIPS or by texting 274637 (CRIMES) and including the words "TIP577."