Hate crime charges against pro-Palestinian protester who threatened a Jewish man on the Manhattan subway

A pro-Palestinian protester accused of threatening a straphanger on a Manhattan train over the summer has been hit with hate crime charges, authorities confirmed.

Police have been searching for the suspect — identified as 37-year-old Christopher Husary — since the June 10 incident, first reported by the New York Post, for allegedly threatening a Jewish man on a Manhattan subway.

According to law enforcement, a 35-year-old man was on his way home after attending a memorial service for the October 7, 2023 terrorist attack in Israel when he spotted a masked man spray painting “Free Gaza” on the train in Union Square .

The man was taking a photo of the vandal when, police allege, Husary threatened the victim and demanded he delete the photo. He also called the victim a “Zionist.”

Police believe Husary, who is from California, was in the Big Apple at the time of the crime and was taking part in an anti-war rally. He was also wanted in his home state for flag burning.

Husary was tracked down in California by the Fugitive Regional Task Force and extradited to New York on November 6th.

Husary was escorted by detectives in handcuffs from the 7th Precinct police station on Wednesday evening. While he refused to answer our questions about the alleged crime, he flashed a peace sign with his handcuffed hand.

Husary is accused of coercion and serious harassment.