Man Indicted on Hate Crime Charges for Alleged Anti-Female, Anti-White, and Antisemitic Attacks in New York City

A man accused of assaulting or harassing at least five people in New York City over the past year, including a woman who documented her injury on TikTok, has been indicted on hate crime charges for the “anti-female, anti-white, and antisemitic” attacks, prosecutors say.

Skiboky Stora, 40, is charged with three counts of third-degree assault as a hate crime, one count of third-degree stalking as a hate crime, and aggravated harassment in the second degree for the incidents that stretched from September 2023 to March 2024, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday.

Stora, of Brooklyn, had previously been arrested in March on an assault charge, accused of hitting a woman in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. The woman documented the bizarre injury on TikTok.

In that case, the 23-year-old white woman was walking in Chelsea on March 25 when she passed Stora and he “struck her in the head, causing her to fall to the ground,” authorities said. She suffered pain and swelling on the left side of her head, the DA's office said.

“You guys, I was literally just walking and a man came up and punched me in the face,” she said tearfully in her video. “Oh, my God, it hurts so bad. I can’t even talk.”

She was one of several women who posted on the platform describing being punched or attacked as they were walking down the street in Manhattan.

“Skiboky Stora allegedly committed a series of hate-motivated incidents against several individuals based on their perceived gender, race, and religion,” District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg said. “Nobody should have to fear for their safety because of their identity.”

Series of Alleged Attacks

The series of attacks allegedly started on September 20 of last year when Stora passed a 17-year-old white student in Chelsea and allegedly elbowed him in the neck and said, “You people think you can do whatever the f--- you want,” the district attorney's office said in a release.

Then, on the morning of October 26, a 37-year-old woman described as “fair-skinned” walked past Stora in Chelsea and as she passed, he elbowed her left shoulder, causing pain and bruising, officials said.

A month later, on November 18, a white Jewish couple were walking their dogs in Union Square when the 28-year-old woman in the couple saw Stora tearing down posters about kidnapped Israeli hostages and took a photo of him.

Stora noticed the couple looking at him, began to follow them, and allegedly shouted “anti-white and antisemitic remarks,” including “F---- you white boy.”

A woman invited the couple into her apartment so that they could get away from Stora, who allegedly followed them into the building lobby yelling, “Die, Jews, Die!” prosecutors said.

Legal Proceedings and Public Office Aspirations

Stora was arrested two days later in connection with the attack on the woman who posted on TikTok and had pleaded not guilty in that case. He was arraigned Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to the hate crime charges. Stora is representing himself in court, according to court records. His next hearing is slated for August 6.

Stora has sought public office in New York since 2021 and participated in a New York City mayoral debate in 2021, NBC News previously reported citing public records. In 2022, he filed a handwritten petition to get on the ballot for New York governor. Last year, records show, Stora ran for the District 9 seat on the New York City Council.

Stora's Defense and Allegations of Political Retribution

Stora denied the allegations outlined in the indictment, calling the hate crime charges “absolute madness.”

Stora told NBC News on Wednesday that he allegedly filed a lawsuit against Eric Adams last year, that he intends to run in the New York City mayoral election against him next year, and believes that he is being charged as an act of political retribution, identifying himself as a Black Republican.

Speaking on the assault of the woman who documented her injury on TikTok he said, “I never met that woman,” and claimed she identified a different suspect in a lineup that wasn’t him.

When asked about the November incident involving the Jewish couple, Stora said he was tearing down the posters because they were “scaring the kids in the community.”

“I’m all about America. I love Jews,” Stora said.

He said that the couple confronted him as he was tearing the poster and he claimed the man in the couple told him, “The Muslims are coming. Die Jew Die.” Stora said that statement referenced by the district attorney’s office was said in mockery towards him by the couple.

He then headed home, saw the couple enter a building, and claimed they eventually exited then followed him home.

Online court records show that Stora filed a lawsuit against the New York City Board of Elections last year under the Civil Rights Act that is ongoing, and again last month against the city and Bragg alleging false arrest and excessive force in connection with a search warrant executed at his home on April 18. That warrant was executed after the alleged street attack incidents. No responses have been filed yet in response to the latest suit.

Community Reaction and Concerns

The incidents involving Stora have raised significant concerns about public safety and hate crimes in New York City. Community leaders and advocacy groups have called for heightened vigilance and stronger measures to protect individuals from hate-motivated attacks. The charges against Stora reflect ongoing efforts by law enforcement and prosecutors to address and combat hate crimes in the city.

Impact on Victims

The victims of Stora's alleged attacks have experienced significant trauma and fear. The woman who documented her injury on TikTok, along with others who shared their experiences, have highlighted the pervasive nature of hate crimes in the city. Their stories have amplified the call for greater protections and justice for those targeted based on their identity.

Broader Implications

The case against Stora underscores the broader issue of hate crimes and the importance of addressing such incidents with urgency and seriousness. The legal proceedings will be closely watched as a measure of the city's commitment to combating hate and ensuring the safety and dignity of all its residents.

As the case progresses, it is a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges in eradicating hate crimes and the necessity for continued vigilance and proactive measures to protect vulnerable communities. The community's response and the legal outcome will have lasting implications for how hate crimes are addressed and prevented in the future.