Former NSC Official Arrested For Islamophobic Harassment At NYC Food Cart
In a shocking turn of events, former NSC official arrested for islamophobic harassment at NYC food cart.
Author:Hajra ShannonReviewer:Paula M. GrahamNov 24, 2023270 Shares67.4K Views
In a shocking turn of events, former NSC official arrested for islamophobic harassment at NYC food cart.
Stuart Seldowitz, a former Obama-era National Security Council official, has been arrested after a series of videos circulated widely on social media, showing him engaging in hate-laden, Islamophobic language against an employee working inside a New York City food cart.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) has arrested Seldowitz on preliminary charges of hate crime/stalking, second-degree aggravated harassment, stalking causing fear, and stalking at employment.
The Offensive Videos
The videos, recorded by a vendor from inside a food cart on Manhattan's Upper East Side on different days, depict Seldowitz mocking Islam, taunting the man about his citizenship status, accusing him of supporting Hamas, and referencing the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
The videos have sparked outrage, raising concerns about the surge in reported anti-Arab and anti-Muslim bias incidents in the US since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.
“„A 24-year-old male victim stated to police that an individual approached him at his work place multiple times and made anti-Islamic statements multiple times on different dates causing the victim to feel afraid and annoyed.- Police
Multiple disagreements about Israel's assault on Gaza between Seldowitz and an Egyptian guy working in a halal cart in Manhattan went viral last month.
Seldowitz, in one video, accuses the vendor of supporting the killing of children, to which the vendor retorts, "You kill children, not me."
“„If we killed 4,000 Palestinian children, you know what? It wasn’t enough!- Stuart Seldowitz, a former Obama-era National Security Council official
The NYPD is currently reviewing the incident, and it remains uncertain what charges Seldowitz will ultimately face.
Escalating Tensions And Backlash
As the Israel-Hamas conflict continues, incidents of hate speech and bias have surged. Reports suggest an "unprecedented" increase in anti-Arab and anti-Muslim bias incidents, paralleled by a spike in antisemitic incidents across the country.
FBI Director Christopher Wray has characterized the threat as reaching "historic levels." The videos of Seldowitz further underscore the escalating tensions and the impact of the ongoing conflict on communities in the United States.
Seldowitz's Background And Apology
According to a biography page on the website of lobbying organization Gotham Government Relations, Seldowitz worked as interim director for the National Security Council South Asia Directorate in the early 2000s during Barack Obama's administration.
Seldowitz held the job from February 2009 until January 2011 under former President Barack Obama's administration, according to his LinkedIn page.
Stuart Seldowitz confirmed that he is the individual in the videos.
Gotham Government Relations, a lobbying group, has since distanced itself from Seldowitz, emphasizing that the video's actions are "vile, racist, and beneath the dignity" of their standards.
“„Gotham Government Relations has ended all affiliation with Stuart Seldowitz, an individual who hasn’t contributed to our work in years. The video of his actions is vile, racist, and beneath the dignity of the standards we practice at our firm.- Gotham Government Relations, the New York City-based group
Seldowitz has expressed regret, acknowledging that he said things in the "heat of the moment" that he probably shouldn't have.
The incident has led to his arrest and raised questions about the broader implications of hate speech in the midst of global conflicts.
“„I regret the whole thing happened and I’m sorry. But you know, in the heat of the moment, I said things that probably I shouldn’t have said.- Stuart Seldowitz, a former Obama-era National Security Council official
“„The comments that went beyond him [the vendor], and could be interpreted as attacks on Muslims and Arab-Americans and so on, were probably not appropriate. The comments I made calling him out for his support of terrorism – those I think were appropriate.- Stuart Seldowitz, a former Obama-era National Security Council official
Final Words
The arrest of former National Security Council official Stuart Seldowitz highlights the disturbing rise in hate speech amid the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The videos depicting Islamophobic harassment have ignited concerns about increasing bias incidents in the US.
Seldowitz's offensive remarks have prompted outrage, shedding light on the challenges communities face in the midst of global conflicts.
The incident raises questions about the prevalence of hate speech and the need for heightened awareness and accountability in addressing such issues.
Hajra Shannon
Author
Paula M. Graham
Reviewer
Latest Articles
Popular Articles