An Atlantic Beach Rescue member has been permanently banned from all department activity after shouting anti-Semitic remarks during a funeral procession.
The incident occurred during a levaya — a Jewish tradition of escorting the deceased to their final resting place — in Inwood on Sept. 10.
The man, whose identity has not been revealed, was seen in a Tesla marked as an EMT vehicle, using the car’s speaker system to shout anti-Semitic slurs and yell “Free Palestine.” He was later identified as a member of Atlantic Beach Rescue.
Atlantic Beach Rescue released a statement on their Instagram page, condemning the individual’s behavior and cutting all ties between him and the department.
“Atlantic Beach Rescue is appalled and outraged by the conduct of one of our former members during a funeral procession in Inwood” the post read. “Immediately upon learning of this incident, he was permanently banned from any involvement with our department and our facilities. There is zero tolerance for hate within Atlantic Beach Rescue.
“This reprehensible behavior in no way reflects who we are as an organization or the values we stand for. We extend our deepest sympathies to the grieving families and the Jewish community, and we will cooperate fully with authorities as they investigate this deeply disturbing matter. We remain firmly committed to ensuring that every member of Atlantic Beach Rescue reflects the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and respect.”
