DOJ Sues Anti-Israel Protesters for Assaulting Jewish Worshipers
Federal Lawsuit Charges Anti-Israel Protesters with Harassment and Assault at New Jersey Religious Event
The current federal administration has filed a civil lawsuit against individuals and groups involved in a violent protest outside a synagogue in West Orange, New Jersey, last year. The Department of Justice alleges that two organizations—Party for Socialism and Liberation New Jersey and American Muslims for Palestine New Jersey—along with several demonstrators, coordinated efforts to intimidate and disrupt Jewish worshipers during a religious gathering.
The incident occurred on November 13, 2024, during a property sale event organized by local dentist Moshe Glick, featuring land transactions in Israel and the Palestinian territories. Glick was compelled to relocate the event after receiving threats from demonstrators, including a threatening letter from Tova Fry, also known as Terry Fry, and demands from the anti-Israel groups to cancel the event entirely.
During the protest, approximately 50 masked individuals with vuvuzelas—horn-shaped noise-makers—advanced past police barriers, causing a disturbance at the synagogue. Protesters shouted hostile remarks, including one caller loudly proclaiming, “The Jew is here!”
Video footage from the lawsuit depicts Altaf Sharif attacking worshiper David Silberberg, allegedly grabbing him in a chokehold and dragging him to a parking lot, while another protester made aggressive threats. In response, Glick intervened and struck Sharif with a flashlight in self-defense, claiming he was acting to protect Silberberg from assault.
The lawsuit accuses the protesters and groups of engaging in violence and harassment, with the DOJ seeking damages against those involved. The defendant, Glick, has pleaded not guilty to felony assault charges, asserting that he acted in self-defense, and has challenged the related charges from local authorities, arguing they were improperly filed. Glick’s legal team is seeking to dismiss these charges, emphasizing their confidence in the case’s dismissal.
