Hustled Away: Zimmerman was protesting Satmar Hasidic community leader David Niederman when he was hustled into a Judaica shop by Satmar activists. Image by Josh Nathan-Kazis

By Josh Nathan-Kazis August 27, 2013

Hasidic activists accosted a man who disrupted a rally by Satmar Hasidim endorsing New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Bill Thompson, briefly detaining him inside a nearby Judaica store.

The careful stagecraft of the event went awry as one Hasidic speaker concluded praising Thompson and Satmar Hasidic community leader David Niederman took the podium. A man later identified as Zimmerman shouted criticisms of Niederman, the rally’s organizer. Onlookers quickly grabbed the man and shuffled him forcefully away from the gathering at the corner of Rodney Street and Lee Avenue in Williamsburg, the Satmar’s Brooklyn base, and into a store around the corner.

“This is wonderful,” Niederman said of the disruption, shortly before Zimmerman was hustled away. “Democracy is all about freedom.” “

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

Niederman is a leading figure in the larger of the two Satmar factions in Williamsburg, though Zimmerman’s criticism did not appear to be related to the dispute between the Satmar sects.

The men grabbed Zimmerman and shoved him into Bais Hasefer, a gifts and Judaica store on Lee Avenue around the corner from the rally. A large group of Hasidic men and reporters gathered around the storefront. Shouting could be heard inside the store, though it did not appear that Zimmerman was being harmed.

After a few moments, a man not dressed in traditional Satmar garb exited Bais Hasefer to demand that reporters stop photographing the incident.

“I’ll break your camera,” the man said to this reporter. He then flashed an identity card with what looked like a police seal in the corner. He declined to produce the card for further inspection, and later declined to identify himself.

When asked by this reporter if he was threatening him, the man said: “Yes.”

The man who had been hustled away was seen leaving Bais Hasefer on his own after roughly five minutes.

Bystanders asserted that the man, who later identified himself with the single name Zimmerman, was mentally ill. He appeared to be well known among the Williamsburg Satmars.

Before he was accosted, Zimmerman shouted that Niederman does “not represent traditional Jews.”

Approached after the rally, Zimmerman was exceptionally reserved. “We are traditional Jews and we are against the immorality,” he told the Forward.

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$90 $180

$360

Other amount