Assemblyman lauds NYPD and local precinct response
Assemblyman Luis Sepúlveda is calling for the community to turn out at a Tuesday morning rally to protest the vicious Friday evening anti-Muslim attack in Parkchester by two assailants against a Bengali man dressed in traditional Muslim garb. The attackers reportedly yelled “ISIS! ISIS!” during the assault.
Sepúlveda will be joined by State Senator and Reverend Ruben Diaz Sr., Community Board 9 member Mohammed Mujumder, and other community and religious leaders at 9 a.m. in front of PS 119 at 1075 Pugsley Avenue.
Mujibur Rahman, 43, was picking up his nine-year-old niece from the school about 5:30 p.m. Friday when the two assailants punched him in the head and knocked him to the ground where they kicked him several times, while reportedly yelling the anti-Muslim slurs.
“I am appalled by this latest hate crime in the heart of our community,” said the Assemblyman, who praised 43rd Precinct commanding officer, Inspector Fausto Pichardo, for his “professionalism, compassion, and quick response” to the incident. “An attack on one member of our community is an attack on us all,” added Sepúlveda.
“I will work closely with the NYPD, the 43rd Precinct, the community board, local officials, and the NYPD's Hate Crimes Unit to bolster protections for our hard-working Muslim families who unfortunately, because of the problems in the Mideast, are facing a higher than ever incidence of hate crimes,” Sepúlveda said. He asked anyone with information about the attack to contact the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers hotline at 800-577-TIPS (8477).
