New York State Bar Association President Decries Rise in Antisemitic Incidents, Thanks Governor for Combating Hate Crimes
11.13.2023
Richard Lewis, president of the New York State Bar Association, issued the following statement about Gov. Kathy Hochul’s fight against antisemitism:
“We applaud Gov. Hochul’s powerful and eloquent words yesterday at the American Jewish Committee’s Board of Governors meeting. Pointing to a 217 percent increase in antisemitic incidents — including messages threatening violence at Cornell University and the attack of a woman at Grand Central Station — the governor denounced antisemitism in the clearest terms possible:
‘The fear that has been unleashed on an entire community is beyond reprehensible to me as the governor of this state…I’ll leave no stone unturned to make sure that you feel protected when you’re worshiping, dropping children off at yeshiva, walking down the street, or taking a subway here in New York. Every single citizen of this state is entitled to have that sense of security. We owe that to them.,’ the governor said.
“The chants and slogans of the supporters of Hamas are no different from the words of the Ku Klux Klan or the Nazis,” Lewis added. “They are a deviation from our American values, and protecting our citizens is part of preserving our democracy. The New York State Bar Association joins Gov. Hochul in condemning these deplorable acts.”
Background:
The governor’s speech followed her imitative last week to make $50 million available for local law enforcement agencies to prevent and solve hate crimes, $25 million in security funding for at-risk community groups and cultural centers, an expansion of the New York State Police’s social media analysis unit, and a new initiative from the Division of Human Rights.
The New York State Bar Association Task Force on Combating Antisemitism and Anti-Asian Hate is continuing to examine ways to reverse the steep increase in hate crimes. The recommendations will be shared with elected and appointed officials and the public as soon as the work is complete.
