A Jewish man was attacked by an English speaker, likely an American tourist, while engaging in religious propaganda on Fifth Avenue in Playa del Carmen, a pedestrian thoroughfare frequented by foreigners in Cancún and the Riviera Maya.
A video that began circulating in recent hours shows the moment a man snatches, breaks the flagpole, and throws to the ground a yellow Hebrew flag, a symbol of the Jewish faith, which the man was carrying as he walked along Fifth Avenue with a sound system on his back, amplifying religious music.
The incident came to light in recent hours through the posting of a video on various social media platforms, where some users have suggested that the attack was more politically motivated than religious, stemming from the ongoing war in the Middle East, in which Israel is a party.
The aforementioned street where the incident occurred is the longest pedestrian zone in this part of the country, where up to 15,000 people walk daily, mainly tourists during peak season.
On occasion, the street is used by various religions for displays of faith, primarily Catholics, who use Fifth Avenue for processions during Holy Week.
The Jewish community does the same, inviting followers of their faith who come to Playa del Carmen as tourists to visit their synagogues: there are three in the city, according to official data.
The identities of those involved in this altercation are currently unknown, something that, at least as recorded in digital media, has not been seen before.
After the video went viral, León Ballesteros Reyes, Director of Religious Affairs for Playa del Carmen, called for calm among the various faiths, stating that there had never been an act of religious intolerance in the town’s history.
He even urged the affected person to file a complaint if they feel wronged.
Source: proceso
