Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Ultra-Orthodox Internet Rally Bans Press, Organizers Cite "Homeland Security"
By
John Del Signore
Published May 21, 2012
Modified May 21, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Courtesy City Councilman David Greenfield
By
John Del Signore
Published May 21, 2012
Modified May 21, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Some 40,000 ultra-Orthodox Jews packed Citi Field last night (with another 20,000 overflowing into Arthur Ashe stadium) for a huge rally warning about the evils of the Internet. If you're curious about what went on inside, look no further than the Internet, where the Twitter hastag #Asifa yields a slew of live updates from the rally. Organizers had futilely tried to keep the sold-out event private, to no avail. Josh Nathan-Kazis at the Forward was told that reporters would not be permitted inside because of Homeland Security.
Outside Citi Field, Lazer Paskes, one of the events’ lead spokesman, told reporters, "Homeland Security... had determined that press could not attend." He declined to elaborate, according to the Forward. But the Uncle Sam's alleged attempt to silence the press didn't stop several reporters from getting into the stadium—perhaps most impressive was Betabeat's Adrianne Jeffries, who defied organizers' attempts to exclude women and reported in realtime from inside the stadium. Here's somewhat surreal video from the scene at Citi Field last night.
RT @nosmh:The whole asifa was like a UN conference mulity languages,no one understands whats the point and no real resulting at all #asifa
— Jg (@gold166) May 21, 2012
@joshnathankazis My female friend, an EMT, was stationed at Citifield tonight. She said all the women's bathrooms were locked #asifa
— Dvora Meyers (@gymnick83) May 21, 2012
internet resolution at #Asifa: if u need to visit a web site you should use a "Internet Goy" to visit the site for u - like a Shabbos Goy
— Yosef Kramer (@YosefKramer) May 21, 2012
Outside the stadium, a protest blasted the ultra-Orthodox community for fixating on technology while ignoring child abuse. "They’re going to spend millions of dollars to fight the internet," organizer Ari Mandel told CBS 2. "But they will do absolutely nothing to fight child molestation." The problem of child sex abuse in ultra-Orthodox communities has been getting increased media scrutiny in recent months, especially in the wake of a damning NY Times article about Brooklyn DA Charles Hynes's handling of such investigations.
Inside Citi Field, two billboards for Cholula hot sauce were censored, with the female in the company's ad campaigns covered up. “This is a battle being waged against dark negative forces," one rabbi told the crowd. "[God] will help us wage this war against those negative forces. “Children are being turned into click vegetables... I’ve seen people with my own eyes giving 11-year-olds BlackBerrys and iPhones and cellphones. I can’t believe it." And Eytan Kobre, another spokesman, told the Times, "The siren song of the Internet entices us! It brings out the worst of us!" Sounds like the words of a man who's never appreciated how amazing Sharon Stone looks at 53.
Tagged
asifa
citi field
jews against the internet
the Internet
ultra orthodox jews
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Plainclothes ICE agent with long gun looked like mass shooter, Mayor Mamdani says
The mayor said his administration would review ICE and NYPD actions surrounding Thursday’s shooting.
By
Michael Sol Warren
Published Oct 11, 2026 at 1:49 p.m. ET
NJ Transit riders face 5 weeks of schedule disruptions starting Sunday
NJ Transit and Amtrak riders should prepare for cancellations, schedule changes and longer commutes as work continues on the new Portal North Bridge.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
NJ Transit riders face 5 weeks of schedule disruptions starting Sunday
NJ Transit and Amtrak riders should prepare for cancellations, schedule changes and longer commutes as work continues on the new Portal North Bridge.
By
Giulia Heyward
For a Democrat in a traditionally red NJ district, how to woo Republican voters
By
Mike Hayes
2 pedestrians killed in Bronx crash after driver ran red light, police say
By
Brittany Kriegstein
and
Ann Givens
Rain could put a damper on NYC’s long weekend. Here’s when it will clear.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .