The Rev. Al Sharpton abruptly backed out yesterday of a symposium on the 1991 Crown Heights riots after his invitation triggered outrage.
Sharpton said he would not appear on a panel discussing the “State of Black-Jewish Relations: Twenty Years After Crown Heights” because it would “pain” Norman Rosenbaum, whose brother Yankel was stabbed to death during four days of rioting.
After the invitation to Sunday’s symposium at The Hampton Synagogue on Long Island was disclosed, Rosenbaum denounced it as “an absolute disgrace.” He said Sharpton’s “vile rhetoric incited the rioting.”
Sharpton yesterday wrote the symposium’s organizer, Rabbi Marc Schneier: “Since the event has now been distorted and would cause pain to him [Rosenbaum], I, out of respect to his request, have decided to decline to participate in Sunday’s event.”
Sharpton denied in his letter to Schneier that he exacerbated tensions in 1991.