Police prosecute congregant after promising to protect NJ synagogue from protesters, lawsuit alleges
The suit documents “what can happen when law enforcement fails to appreciate the danger Jewish members of the community face from violent and virulently antisemitic attacks,” an attorney for Moshe Glick told JNS
Assessment
A New Jersey congregant is suing police after being prosecuted for an incident that occurred while authorities had promised to protect his synagogue from protesters. The lawsuit claims law enforcement failed to grasp the threat of antisemitic violence, turning a protected person into a defendant. The case tests whether police pledges of safety hold any weight when the protected individual acts in self-defense. Watch for how the court weighs the promise of protection against the prosecution's charges.