New York, NY, September 4, 2014 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today praised the New York Police Department’s (NYPD) quick arrest of an individual alleged to have targeted two Palestinian-American Muslim women on September 3 in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.

According to reports, Brian Boshell, 45, harassed and threatened Linda Sarsour, the Executive Director of the Arab American Association of New York, and her associate. Boshell allegedly hurled sexist, anti-Arab and anti-Muslim epithets at Sarsour and her colleague, threatened them with physical harm, and threw a garbage can at them. NYPD made an arrest within hours and Boshell is being charged with menacing as a hate crime.

“We applaud the NYPD’s efforts in making an arrest within just hours of this heinous incident and are pleased to see that the perpetrator has been charged with a hate crime for targeting these women because of their identity,” said Evan R. Bernstein, ADL New York Regional Director. “New Yorkers of all faiths, nationalities, and ethnicities should feel secure on the streets of our city without the fear or threat of being targeted for violence because of their religion or background.”

Mr. Bernstein added, “Targeting people because they are – or are perceived to be – Arab or Muslim is simply unacceptable, and this kind of bigotry must always unequivocally be condemned and reported immediately to law enforcement.”

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world’s leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.  Follow us on Twitter: @ADL_NY