American Jewish Woman Arrested for Assault and Hate Crime After Throwing Coffee at Man in Playground

Hadasa Karavanibozak, an American Jewish woman, surrendered to authorities on Tuesday, November 21, after she was caught on camera throwing hot coffee at a man wearing a scarf while he was with his toddler son at a Brooklyn playground. The incident occurred on November 7, 2023, at Edmonds Playground in Forte Green, Brooklyn. The victim, Asish Prashar, who was born and raised in London and is of Indian Descent, was watching his 18-month-old son play when Karavanibozak approached him.

According to Prashar, who was wearing a keffiyeh, a headscarf traditionally worn by Palestinian men at the time, Karavanibozak asked him if he supported Hamas and accused “his people” of burning babies in the oven. When Prashar tried to document the incident, Karavanibozak aggressively approached him and told him to go away. She then threw her phone and the hot coffee at him.

The video of the incident went viral, amassing over a million views. Following the circulation of the video, posters of Karavanibozak were found across the neighborhood, leading to her eventual surrender. Karavanibozak, who is a nanny living in Grand Army Plaza, was charged with multiple counts, including hate crime assault and harassment.

Prashar expressed his gratitude for the community’s support in driving Karavanibozak to surrender. He mentioned that the incident exposed his son to hate and intolerance but emphasized that Karavanibozak’s actions do not represent the Jewish community.

The incident highlights the impact of social media in raising awareness and mobilizing communities against hate crimes. Prashar’s story gained widespread attention, prompting a community-driven effort to bring the perpetrator to justice.

In an interview with ABC 7 NY, Prashar also revealed that he had seen Karavanibozak in a local Whole Foods store over the weekend, further emphasizing the need for accountability and justice in cases of hate crimes.

The arrest of Hadasa Karavanibozak serves as a reminder of the importance of standing up against hate and intolerance, and the power of communities coming together to support victims and seek justice.