Coronavirus News: ‘Absolutely unacceptable’: Crowd gathers for rabbi’s funeral in Brooklyn
WILLIAMSBURG, Brooklyn (WABC) — Mayor Bill de Blasio described the chaotic scene during a crowded funeral in Brooklyn as “absolutely unacceptable.”
Hundreds of people were seen ignoring social distancing guidelines in Williamsburg on Tuesday night.
The funeral was held for Rabbi Chaim Mertz.
Video shows hundreds of people jammed together in the streets for the service.
In a series of angry tweets, de Blasio said this type of gathering will not be tolerated and the time for warnings has passed.
“We have lost so many these last two months and I understand the instinct to gather to mourn, but large gatherings will only lead to more deaths and more families in mourning,” he wrote on Twitter. “We will not allow this.”
He said he has instructed the NYPD to make arrests if necessary.
My message to the Jewish community, and all communities, is this simple: the time for warnings has passed. I have instructed the NYPD to proceed immediately to summons or even arrest those who gather in large groups. This is about stopping this disease and saving lives. Period.
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) April 29, 2020
MORE CORONAVIRUS COVID-19 COVERAGE
COVID-19 Help, Information and Resources
UPDATES
Grieving the lost: Tri-State residents who have died
New York state
New Jersey
Connecticut
Long Island
RELATED INFORMATION
Share your coronavirus story with Eyewitness News
Stimulus check scams and other coronavirus hoaxes
Coronavirus prevention: how clean are your hands?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on coronavirus
Total count of NYC COVID-19 cases based on patient address
Copyright © 2020 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Related News:
