A “Justice for Ehud” campaign kicked off Thursday with an online crusade and plans for a contentious rally on Friday, ratcheting up the anger that’s escalating over the apparent police beatdown of a Jewish man in Crown Heights earlier this month.
Friends of Ehud Halevy, 21, put up a Facebook page promoting the Friday protest and launched a Change.org petition asking the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office to dismiss charges against him for assaulting two cops in the Oct. 8 incident.
“This isn’t anger; this is rage,” said Barry Sugar of the Jewish Leadership Council, who planned to join an anticipated crowd of at least 300 in front of the Jewish Children’s Museum on Eastern Parkway on Friday.
“The police department has been indifferent toward the Jewish community,” Sugar said.
Marchers said they didn’t have time to obtain a permit for the demonstration and were expecting an angry clash if officers attempt to break up their gathering.
At a 71st Precinct Police-Community Council meeting, held Thursday evening at Middle School 61 in Crown Heights, Deputy Inspector John Lewis acknowledged that police were aware of the mounting anger over the incident.
"I know a lot of people are upset," Lewis said, though he denied that incidents like the one involving Halevy were common, saying: "If you are here to tell me that there is a culture of police just bashing people, then I have to disagree."
Officer Luis Vega, the cop who can be seen on video punching Halevy, has been placed on desk duty and his gun was taken away, Lewis said.
"Sometimes we can throw the first punch," Lewis said, though he wasn't referring specifically to the Halevy incident.
"The mere fact is, when an officer is injured while conducting their business is when an assault (charge) occurs."
The relationship between Hasidic Jews in Crown Heights and the 71st Precinct has soured since the video hit the Internet Sunday night showing officers pummeling Halevy inside the Aliya youth center on E. New York Ave.
A surveillance camera captured officers unleashing a wave of punches and blows accusing Halevy of resisting arrest.
Police had been called by a volunteer night watchman, who complained that Halevy was there without permission, sleeping naked and refusing to leave.
“We’ve requested that the D.A. drop all criminal charges and focus the investigation on the two police officers who violated our client’s civil rights,” said Normal Siegel, Halevy’s lawyer, who also planned to attend Friday’s rally.
Aliya’s director, Rabbi Moshe Feiglin, declined to comment on the demonstration, saying that his focus is on collecting e-signatures.
“We will do whatever we can to have his charges dropped,” Feiglin said.
By Simone Weichselbaum / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
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