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Anti-Gay Jewish Group Hires Mexican Laborers To Protest NYC Pride Parade


By

Christopher Robbins

Published Jun 29, 2015

Modified Jun 29, 2015


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Tod Seelie / Gothamist


By

Christopher Robbins

Published Jun 29, 2015

Modified Jun 29, 2015


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Hoping to persuade the jubilant masses of their iniquity, bearded Orthodox men donned their most prejudicial black robes and added some unintentional levity at yesterday's Pride Parade. But the action was apparently 2 Hott for the littlest of God's messengers.

The Times stumbled upon a group of Mexican laborers holding signs in a protest pen at Fifth Avenue and 15th Street ("Adam and Eve NOT Adam and Steve").

But the men were not Jewish. They were Mexican laborers, protesting because they were paid to protest, said one of the men, who would not give his name.

Astroturfing is nothing new. But outsourcing bigotry?

Heshie Freed, a member of the political action committee, an Orthodox Jewish group based in Brooklyn, said that the men were supplementary troops, filling in for the Jewish students who would normally be called upon to demonstrate.

“The rabbis said that the yeshiva boys shouldn’t come out for this because of what they would see at the parade,” Mr. Freed said.

If the NYPD was swayed, those kids had no chance.

Tagged

asstroturfing

pride parade

pride week

ultra-orthodox


Christopher Robbins

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Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.

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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


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