NYC construction worker ‘Paulie’ hailed a hero for confronting man shredding Israeli hostage posters
A group of furious Big Apple construction workers hopped out of their truck Friday to confront a stranger who was tearing down posters of Israeli hostages held captive by Hamas.
“This is f–king the US, this is New York City, You don’t have a right to touch that s–t,” one hardhat, identified only as “Paulie,” said to the man in a video that has since gone viral.
Paulie and his crew immediately jumped into action after witnessing a man trying to wedge himself between the stranger and the fliers taped to light poles on the corner of 67th Drive and 108th Street in Forest Hills.
Jacob Birn, 24, had tailed and filmed the man for two blocks while repeatedly demanding to know why he was ripping down the fliers and begging him to leave the remaining ones alone.
Birn, who was out for a run “right in the heart” of the Jewish community, told The Post he happened upon the stranger stuffing the posters into a bag while questioning the veracity of the Israeli hostage situation.
“He kept asking, ‘Do you have proof’ about the hostages and the kidnapping,” Birn told The Post, adding that the man repeatedly said he “totally didn’t care.”
That’s when two construction workers hopped out of their yellow truck to intervene, taking sides with Birn.
“This is a free country. You can wave your Palestine flag and say death to the Jews and America or whenever you want, but we can put up f–king signs,” Paulie told the man in a thick New York accent.
Paulie and a crowd of other men — including his coworker who identified himself as a veteran — emphasized that none of them were Jewish, but still found the man’s actions disrespectful and infuriating.
When the man tried to claim he wasn’t doing anything wrong, Paulie pointed out that he was technically committing a crime by throwing the trash on the public sidewalk.
“When you throw that on the floor you’re littering the city. In a minute I’m gonna litter the f–king floor with you,” Paulie said while taking a step closer.
The man warned Paulie not to touch him.
“I know that’s what you want. I’m dying to f–king put you in the hospital,” Paulie said before he was whisked away by his coworker.
Birn said he was floored by Paulie and his crew’s support and hailed the outspoken construction worker as a “hero.”
“He’s the king of Queens now – good for him!” reflected Birn, who’s CEO of Addictive Ads.
My first thought was, ‘Wow, this guy went out of his way and he didn’t have to.'”
Police showed up to the ruckus to speak with the poster-shredder, but Paulie had seemingly already sorted out the situation.
The NYPD did not have any record of arrests in the area regarding the incident.
Hundreds of people who viewed Birns video — which has since racked up more than 9 million views — also regard Paulie as a hero, many of whom want to personally congratulate him.
“People want to send a recruiter to him, buy him beer and sushi. They want to invite him to our shul,” said a grateful Birn. “For this guy who’s not Jewish standing up and totally defend the Jewish people, is incredible.”
Birn, a Chicago native who’s been living in NYC for four years, added, “I felt proud to be a New Yorker – and supported by Jews and non-Jews. I felt proud to be in a city that defends its Jews.”
Of the “regular guys, blue collar workers” defending the innocent civilians on the ripped wanted posters, Birn framed the struggle, “This is good versus evil, pro life versus death.”
For the mystery hero in the plaid shirt who “stood up for what’s right,” Birn knows exactly what he wants to do if he sees him again: “I would buy him dinner and say, ‘Thank you for supporting us.’ What he did meant the world. There are no words to show what his support really meant to me.”
