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Young Jewish Democrat feels 'abandoned' by party, joins NYC protest against Alvin Bragg

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Young Jewish Democrat feels 'abandoned' by party, joins NYC protest against Alvin Bragg

A lifelong Jewish Democrat said he feels “abandoned” by the party after Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office dropped charges against dozens of anti-Israel protesters who barricaded themselves inside an academic building at Columbia University in April.

“I’ve been a lifelong Democrat, but… I think the party has abandoned me, and it’s unfortunate because I believe in many liberal and progressive values, but it seems like they don’t believe in me and they don’t believe in Jewish Americans,” Shabbos Kestenbaum said Tuesday on “Fox & Friends.”

The Harvard graduate joined with protesters outside the Manhattan District Attorney’s office on Monday to challenge what many view as a “dangerous precedent” set by dropping trespassing charges against the protesters.

MANHATTAN DA DROPS CHARGES AGAINST COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS ARRESTED AT ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTS

A group of Columbia University students, advocating for Palestinians, access the iconic Hamilton Hall building as they gather to stage a demonstration at the campus in New York, United States on April 30, 2024. (Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images)

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Kestenbaum, a registered Democrat since he turned 18, said while he doesn’t want to abandon the party, Democrats’ treatment of Jewish Americans has shown him that “the party very clearly want[s] to abandon me.”

“Why are we being treated this way? Why the double standards? Why the inaction? And it’s not just New York City. We saw these antisemitic riots yesterday in L.A., and Joe Biden, who is in charge of the Department of Justice, can investigate these crimes. He can crack down on antisemitism and those who are violating the law, but there’s either this inability or unwillingness to protect Jewish Americans,” he said.

MANHATTAN DA DROPS CHARGES AGAINST COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS ARRESTED AT ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTS

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg speaks during a press conference at the Louis J. Lefkowitz State Office Building on March 21, 2024 in New York City. Bragg’s office has been criticized for dismissing trespassing charges against Columbia University protesters. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

He also finds it “shocking” that New Yorkers have to “beg” Bragg’s office to prosecute crime in order to receive “equity, justice and the rule of law.” 

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Stephen Millan, a prosecutor in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, said there was insufficient evidence to show that any individual defendant damaged property or injured anyone.

The DA’s office said in a statement to Fox News Digital, “The Office is continuing to pursue cases from both campuses, including all assaults against police officers,” adding, “There are ongoing school disciplinary proceedings for the students who had their case dismissed.”

Fox News’ Louis Casiano contributed to this report.

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Boston, MA

Boston man charged after allegedly assaulting Burger King employee, punching customer

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Boston man charged after allegedly assaulting Burger King employee, punching customer


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The customer, who was evaluated for “visible lacerations to the forehead,” was punched three times while being called racial slurs, prosecutors say.

A Burger King sign in Erie, Pa.
AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File

A Boston man is facing charges after he allegedly lunged at a Burger King employee, punched a customer, and then resisted arrest at a nearby MBTA station in East Boston, authorities announced Monday afternoon. 

Patrick Donovan, 59, was charged July 1 with one count of assault and battery causing injury on an over 60 or disabled person, assault and battery, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, assault, and vandalism, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden’s office said in a press release. 

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The charges stem from an incident shortly before 10 p.m. on June 30, when Boston police responded to a disturbance call from Burger King at 1 Maverick Square, Hayden’s office said.

A Burger King employee told officers that, after ordering his food and receiving it, Donovan yelled that he no longer wanted it and smacked a napkin holder off the counter. He then allegedly lunged at an employee and grabbed her by the arm, prosecutors said. 

Donovan subsequently shoved a customer from behind and allegedly punched him in the face three times while calling him racial slurs, the DA’s office said. 

Emergency medical services evaluated the customer for “visible lacerations to the forehead,” but the victim declined additional treatment, authorities said. 

Donovan fled the restaurant following the assaults, and officers tracked him to the nearby MBTA Maverick Station, prosecutors said. 

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“While officers tried to detain Donovan inside the station, he swung at them with a closed fist but did not make contact,” Hayden’s office said, noting that Donovan made racial slurs towards the officers. “Donovan was placed into custody after a brief struggle.” 

During his arraignment in the East Boston division of the Boston Municipal Court, Donovan pleaded not guilty and was released on personal recognizance. Court records show he was also ordered to stay away from Maverick Square and Burger King. 

He is scheduled to return to court Aug. 7 for a pre-trial hearing, prosecutors said. 

Officers obtained security footage of both assaults. Authorities said the incident remains under investigation and could result in further charges. 

“Our workers deserve to be safe in their workplaces and our consumers deserve to be safe in their shopping or dining places, without exception,” Hayden said in a statement. “Beyond that, none of our citizens or first responders should be subjected to racial slurs. These appalling words have no place in Suffolk County or anywhere else in our society.” 

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Attorney information for Donovan was not immediately available Monday afternoon.

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Pittsburg, PA

Pittsburgh files lawsuit against fire truck companies over alleged anticompetitive schemes

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Pittsburgh files lawsuit against fire truck companies over alleged anticompetitive schemes


The city of Pittsburgh filed an antitrust lawsuit against several fire truck manufacturers and related companies on Monday, saying they engaged in anti-competitive schemes in an effort to consolidate and monopolize fire trucks and parts markets.



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Connecticut

HBO casting in CT for neighbor dispute docuseries

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HBO casting in CT for neighbor dispute docuseries


A hit HBO documentary series is looking to Connecticut for stories to feature in its second season.

The show “Neighbors” follows on-going neighbor disputes across the country. The goal of the show is to help neighbors reach a resolution, according to the show’s casting director and executive producer Harleigh Shaw.

“Each story we explore, we spend extensive time with neighbors on both sides to really understand the full context beyond the disputes,” Shaw said.

Producers wanted to share stories in the second season that were based in states that weren’t featured earlier this year in the first season, including Connecticut, Shaw said.

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“A lot of the things that we’re most interested in are things that may seem small, but become a bigger issue between the neighbors,” Shaw said. “Anything from disagreements over gardening practices to property lines to noise to dock issues, if it’s a waterfront property. A whole myriad of things. We’re really open to anything.”

However, the show does avoid situations that are violent or dangerous.

Residents from Connecticut looking to participate should be open to third party conflict resolution, according to Shaw.

“Some of the ways that we did that were through mediation,” Shaw said. “That’s a huge one. But there are other things in terms of resources we’d be open to help the neighbors to like help work through the issues.”

Filming will take place throughout the summer and is expected to be completed by the end of September.

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The show’s production team is located in New York City and Los Angeles.

“Connecticut has always been really interesting because it’s just a short trip away, and we’re just curious to explore the types of neighbor dynamics that are going on there,” Shaw said.

Connecticut residents who are interested in being on “Neighbors,” can apply at helloneighbortv.com and are encouraged to submit information about themselves as well as their neighbor dispute.

“The neighbor disputes are the entry point for this show, but we’re always also just very interested in inspiring amazing people doing cool stuff,” Shaw said.

“Neighbors” premiered in February and was quickly renewed. The show averages about 3 million viewers per episode.

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The show features stories that make viewers laugh and cringe, according to HBO Programming’s Executive Vice President Nina Rosenstein.

“At a time when even the smallest disagreements can spiral out of control, ‘Neighbors’ feels both hilariously absurd and surprisingly relatable,” Rosenstein said. “What makes the show special isn’t just the stories and people they find, but the empathy and humanity they bring to each episode.”





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