Pro-Israel councilman shot dead in New York City Hall

Jerusalem Post ^ | Jul. 23, 2003 | MELISSA RADLER

[yonif]

NEW YORK New York City Councilman James Davis, a retired New York police officer who represented the Crown Heights neighborhood in Brooklyn, was killed Wednesday when an assailant opened fire at City Hall.

Davis, a 41-year-old African-American, was shot twice in the chest by an unknown assailant during a routine City Council meeting, according to preliminary reports.

At least one other person was shot and is in critical condition, according to police.

An outspoken presence on the council, Davis joined the police department in 1983 after he was allegedly beaten by two white officers. In 1991, he started "Love Yourself, Stop the Violence," a nonprofit organization, to address growing urban violence.

Last summer, Davis was one of 12 council members on a 72-hour solidarity mission to Jerusalem. In an interview with The Jerusalem Post prior to his visit, Davis, who said he hoped to propose solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on his work fighting street gangs in New York, expressed his support for Israel's fight against terror. "I understand the Israeli soldiers who are fighting an enemy dressed like civilians," he said.

After returning, he voted in favor of a council resolution that urged US President George W. Bush to shut the PLO mission to the UN.

At press time, police were still searching for Davis's assailant, who was said to be one of 100 people on the second-floor balcony of City Hall at the time of the shooting.

City Hall, which has sharply increased security since the September 11, 2001 attacks, was evacuated shortly after the shooting and the nearby Brooklyn Bridge was shut down.

Officials were quick to dismiss the possibility of a terrorist attack, with Mayor Michael Bloomberg describing it in a hastily-convened press conference as an "attack on democracy."

"We will not stop until we find who did this. It is not terrorism; it appears to be random act. But we cannot allow this to go on, ever. This is an attack on all Americans," Bloomberg said.

[yonif]

Last summer, Davis was one of 12 council members on a 72-hour solidarity mission to Jerusalem. In an interview with The Jerusalem Post prior to his visit, Davis, who said he hoped to propose solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on his work fighting street gangs in New York, expressed his support for Israel's fight against terror. "I understand the Israeli soldiers who are fighting an enemy dressed like civilians," he said.

After returning, he voted in favor of a council resolution that urged US President George W. Bush to shut the PLO mission to the UN.

[EggsAckley]

So..........there IS a connection to Islam. (?)

[Mixer]

There certainly seems to be. I have not seen any mainstream American media mentioning the connection though, have you???????

hmmmmmmmm

[EggsAckley]

Nope. Haven't seen this till yonif posted it. Of course, I've seen very little in print since the event.

[yonif]

What I don't get is why the Mayor is so quick to say no terrorism, the same day it happens, without waiting for some investigation. Just like that LAX shooting.

[EggsAckley]

Yes...JUST like the LAX shooting. And a year later, they leak out that LAX actually WAS terrorism.

[aBootes]

Does anybody know the race of the assailant? I can't seem to find it. Is this another black-on-black shooting?

[Salman]

Does anybody know the race of the assailant? I can't seem to find it. Is this another black-on-black shooting?

Yes it's "black-on-black", but I don't think that's the significant factor somehow.

[EggsAckley]

I've been trying to find information on the shooter, Othniel Askew, but nothing turns up. I did find the statement the the official Council photographer was shooting pix of visitors, but his equipment was confiscated immediately.

IMHO, this should be called what is really was, an assassination.

[EggsAckley]

ACK!

the the = that the

[gnarledmaw]

"Does anybody know the race of the assailant?"

No. From the article:

...police were still searching for Davis's assailant, who was said to be one of 100 people on the second-floor balcony of City Hall at the time of the shooting.

Of course the fact that this guy spent his career interfering with the employees and cash flow of NY drug kingpins doesnt mean anything, we must leap to the conclusion that it had something to do with Israel.

[aBootes]

What do you think the significant factor is? I've gathered that they were rivals in politics in some fashion. It's sort of reminds me of a gang power struggle only carried in City Hall instead of an alley.

[Salman]

What do you think the significant factor is? I've gathered that they were rivals in politics in some fashion. It's sort of reminds me of a gang power struggle only carried in City Hall instead of an alley.

It is a political assassination. "Black-on-black" violence typically implies street crime in the ghetto.

[aBootes]

Ah, okay. I see your point.

[bandleader]

This is such a typical set of circumstances that allowed the killer to enter City Hall with a firearm!Legislators in this country pass laws(erect hoops,take away our rights)for US while they exempt themselves!!!!!

[bandleader]

It sure looks that way but,wait a minute,isn't Islam the "Religion of Peace"?

[xm177e2]

but I don't think that's the significant factor somehow.

No, it's not significant, because it wasn't a random crime, and it wasn't an ideologically-motivated crime. It was someone killing a person that he knew. Race and politics are irrelevant to that.

[freeperfromnj]

IMHO, this should be called what is really was, an assassination

Assassination/Suicide -- surely he knew what the final outcome would be

[NYC Republican]

Bump for later posting.