Amid a backdrop of rising fears of global terrorism and Presidential Candidate Donald Trump’s call to ban Muslims from coming to America, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams this week flew to Turkey and visited a Syrian refugee camp to spread a message of transatlantic solidarity.
Upon his visit to the Nizip refugee camp near the Syrian border he donated clothes to children and families as well as delivered holiday greetings created by students at PS 133 William A. Butler in Park Slope.
The visit also included meetings with the mayors of the Beşiktaş and Üsküdar districts of Istanbul, which have both signed sister city agreements with Brooklyn, to further efforts on educational collaboration and the fight against radicalization, including growing relationships between young people of different cultures through engaging digital platforms.
“Brooklynites, strengthened by our diversity and committed to a safer world for raising healthy children and families, stand with our friends in Turkey, Syria, and all those who are threatened by the cowardice of terrorism,” said Adams. “As our sister cities face terror, as thousands of youth are refugees fighting for their right to live without fear, Brooklyn is there to provide whatever support we can. We are more than One Brooklyn; we are one world united in the pursuit of peace.”
Adams’ trip also included delivering a keynote address to the World Tourism Forum at the 2015 Mediterranean meeting in Antalya, in which he focused on meeting the challenges of terrorism while growing the tourism industry and balancing the concerns of local communities.
His comments included a discussion of his ongoing efforts to strengthen security at soft targets in Brooklyn, which were initiated following last month’s terror attacks in Paris.
Adams, a retired New York City Police officer emphasized the need for businesses large and small alike to invest in counterterrorism training and partner closely with the law enforcement community. He also noted the importance of visitors being educated through tourism agencies and parallel entities on local safety protocols that present critical challenges to municipal security, such as proper operation of personal drones and regulations on infrastructure trespassing.
“We will not run and hide like some would hope, or close our borders like other fear mongers might suggest,” said Adams. “We will be a city with open arms and vigilant eyes. Visitor activity presents an opportunity for real economic impact and cultural exchange through tourism, as well as an obligation to keep everyone who comes into Brooklyn and New York City, in addition to the millions that live and work there every day, safe and secure.”
