Caveat: I have no idea if DeBlasio is doing a good or bad job at anything. I do not know if he is popular and well-liked or not. I do not know if he is good for the Jews or bad for the Jews.
Mayor de Blasio tweeted about a hassidishe funeral from Williamsburg that broke social distancing regulations and had too many people participating. it was the funeral of hassidic rebbe called the Admor of Tolaas Yaakov, and his followers and adherents crowded to the funeral, drawing the ire of de Blasio.
Here is de Blasio's tweet:
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
People got upset that the Mayor called out "the Jewish community" when it was really just a problem by a small group of people. This is generalizing and stereotyping, racist and incitement as it will cause people to be angry at the Jews.
I am not going to defend de Blasio, but I would like some clarification.
De Blasio is criticizing a group of people who broke serious health regulations, and he is warning them that this is a serious violation.
What should he have said instead of "Jewish community"? He added "and all communities" - does that not temper it? This violation was by Jews, so why should they not be called out for it? Should he have said the Hassidic community - but that is also generalizing against all Hassidim, many of whom are following the guidelines? Should he have said the Tolaas Yaakov community? Has he even ever heard of them - I never heard of them until this incident. Should he have left it generic - people are breaking the rules and should not as we will enforce - that does not seem to make the point and most people probably would not even know what he was referring to.
What should he have said instead of what he did say?
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